Automobile Patents (Class 307/10.1)
  • 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
  • Patent number: 11031890
    Abstract: A motor drive control device driving a motor having a first system coil and a second system coil, the motor drive control device comprising: a first drive circuit controlling energization of the first system coil; a second drive circuit controlling energization of the second system coil; a first temperature sensor detecting a temperature of the first drive circuit; a second temperature sensor detecting a temperature of the second drive circuit; and a signal output circuit outputting an output signal concerning whether or not any one of the first system coil and the second system coil is in an open state, based on a detection result by the first temperature sensor and a detection result by the second temperature sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: MINEBEA MITSUMI INC.
    Inventors: Masahiro Tanaka, Yuya Hisatomi, Toshihiro Tamitsuji
  • Patent number: 11030888
    Abstract: A transmitter device for coupling to a vehicle and for conducting a transmission to a remote system includes a transmitter and a processing circuit coupled to the transmitter and having an input interface. The input interface is coupled to an existing user interface of the vehicle for receiving an input to cause the transmitter to conduct its transmission to the remote system. The input interface is coupled to a vehicle sensor for receiving a vehicle sensor input including a motion status of the vehicle. The processing circuit is configured to prevent transmitter from conducting its transmission to the remote system unless the motion status of the vehicle indicates the vehicle is travelling at a speed less than a threshold speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventor: Steven L. Geerlings
  • Patent number: 11027609
    Abstract: A steering wheel according to the present invention for showing a plural driving information comprises: a display device including a screen, an operation device for outputting an operation instruction and a host. The host comprises an interface generating device connected to a storage unit, and connects to an Electronic Control Unit of a vehicle to obtain driving information. After receiving the driving information and the operation instruction input by the user through an operation device, the interface generating device divides the driving information into a plural shown information and hidden information, the shown information is added to a custom page transmitted to the display device, so that the screen shows the custom page and selected driving information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Inventor: Jui-Yueh Ma
  • Patent number: 11031793
    Abstract: A battery and a method for operating a battery, in particular for a motor vehicle, including multiple battery cells, which have respective battery cell housings with electric terminals via which the battery cells are electrically interconnected, wherein a respective cell branch connecting the terminals and having a galvanic cell is arranged in the battery cell housings, a respective bypass branch for bypassing the respective galvanic cell is arranged in the battery cell housings; each cell branch has a first switching element for opening and closing the cell branch, and each bypass branch has a second switching element for opening and closing the bypass branch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Michael Hinterberger, Berthold Hellenthal
  • Patent number: 11021123
    Abstract: An electronic module assembly for controlling the deployment of one or more airbags in an aircraft includes a power source, a crash sensor configured to produce a signal in response to a crash event and an accelerometer that is configured to produce a signal in response to a crash event. A processor starts a timer upon detection of the signal from the crash sensor. When the processor receives a signal from the crash sensor, the processor is configured to determine if a signal has also been received from the accelerometer and if signals from both the crash sensor and the accelerometer indicate a crash event then the processor reads a memory associated with an inflator. The processor reads a timing value selected for the inflator and fires the inflator when the timer has a value equal to the timing value selected for the inflator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: AmSafe, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Anthony Settles, Scott Fink, Giuseppe Gullotto
  • Patent number: 11023847
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems are described for monitoring at least one signal passing through a coupling connection from a first conveyance to a second conveyance, where the coupling connection has a network device that communicates on a wireless node network. Generally, the network device (e.g., an ID node) integrated in the coupling connection monitors the signal line passing through the coupling connection from the first conveyance to the second conveyance. The network device then detects data on the monitored signal line and records the detected data. Thereafter, the network device in the coupling connection transmits the detected data (e.g., a notification that the conveyances are disconnected, a change in power flowing between the conveyances, etc.) to another entity in the wireless network, such as a server or master node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: FEDEX CORPORATE SERVICES, INC.
    Inventor: Ole-Petter Skaaksrud
  • Patent number: 11021073
    Abstract: A power management system for an electric vehicle is provided which maintains power to the various vehicle ‘always-on’ components and subsystems during periods of vehicle non-use without requiring the low voltage battery to undergo frequent charge/discharge cycling. The system uses a secondary DC/DC converter that has a lower output voltage, and operates at a higher efficiency, then the primary DC/DC converter. As a result of this system, the life of the low voltage battery is prolonged and power consumption efficiency is improved, thereby minimizing range loss while the car is parked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Atieva, Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-Philippe Gauthier, Matthew Djock, Richard Biskup
  • Patent number: 11021118
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a wire harness includes: disposing a trunk harness, a branch harness and control boxes on a workbench and attaching the trunk harness and the branch harness to the control boxes; connecting the control boxes to an external device via the branch harness; and switching operation mode of at least one of the control boxes to an information writing mode for inputting information for operating the electric component to be connected to the branch harness into the at least one of the control boxes and then inputting the information from the external device into the at least one of the control boxes via the branch harness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Masashi Nakamura, Masahiro Furukawa, Satoshi Enomoto, Akiyoshi Kanazawa
  • Patent number: 11014452
    Abstract: An electrically driven vehicle comprises a motor; a power storage device; a first power supply device connected with a power line; a charging device configured to charge the power storage device by using electric power from an external power source; and a second power supply device configured to supply part of the electric power from the external power source to auxiliary machinery via the charging device. The electrically driven vehicle performs a charging efficiency determination process that calculates a charging efficiency as a ratio of a charging power of the power storage device to an input power of the charging device, and that determines whether the charging efficiency is lower than a predetermined efficiency. When the charging efficiency determination process determines that the charging efficiency is lower than the predetermined efficiency, the electrically driven vehicle stops the second power supply device and performs the charging efficiency determination process again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaru Kimura, Yusuke Furuhashi, Hidenori Yamada, Yusuke Hattori
  • Patent number: 11014686
    Abstract: A redundant, load-sharing system and method for distributing electrical power to components in a vehicle. The system including a source of power, multiple power distribution buses, a plurality of switching devices and at least two channel controllers. The system being configured to isolate the components and power sources that are determined to be electrically noisy from the components and the power sources that are sensitive to electric noise. Each of the components may be assigned a priority based on the criticality of the component to the operation of the vehicle. In the event of at least a partial loss of power in one or more of the power distribution buses, the switching devices disconnect the components from the effected power distribution buses in reverse order of the assigned priority.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: David R. Trawick, David Loder
  • Patent number: 11014514
    Abstract: A vehicle surroundings display device includes an imaging device, a display device, and a controller is provided. The imaging device images a region toward a rear side of a vehicle and sideways from the vehicle. The display device is capable of displaying an image captured by the imaging device. The controller controls display of the display device, and selectively a normal active mode, a power-off active mode, a standby mode and a shut-down mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Goro Asai, Tomoaki Iida, Kunihiro Sugihara, Yuki Takahashi, Taichi Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 11014481
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seat bottom and a seat back. The seat back includes a backrest and a headrest coupled to the backrest. The vehicle seat may be supplied with power so as to provide a powered experience to the vehicle seat. At least one device is coupled to the headrest and is supplied with power through the vehicle seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Faurecia Automotive Seating, LLC
    Inventor: Shaun D. Tait
  • Patent number: 11016787
    Abstract: A system provided for configuring settings of a device installed in a vehicle based on a user's personal attributes. The system includes an inference module that dynamically gathers one or more personal attributes of the user, and a control unit that applies a configuration to the device based on the personal attributes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignees: Mindtronic AI Co., Ltd., Shanghai XPT Technology Limited
    Inventors: Mu-Jen Huang, Ya-Li Tai, Yu-Sian Jiang
  • Patent number: 11014501
    Abstract: A rearview assembly includes a housing configured to support a rearview device. A button is disposed on a side of the housing and includes a proximal end adjacent the rearview device. A distal portion is spaced from the rearview device. A switch is proximate the distal portion of the button. Actuation of the switch activates a function of the rearview device. The requisite force to actuate the button decreases as the force is moved from the proximal end of the button to the distal portion. The switch is in abutting contact with the housing at the proximal end and is spaced from the housing by a gap at the distal portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventor: Mark R. Roth
  • Patent number: 11012020
    Abstract: An electronic control unit includes a first calculator and a second calculator. When the first calculator has an abnormality, even if a start switch of a vehicle is switched OFF by a driver of the vehicle, the second calculator is configured to maintain system main relays on a positive terminal side and a negative terminal side in a conductive state in case that a certain travel continuation condition is fulfilled. Therefore, even when the driver has erroneously switched OFF the start switch, an electric power is suppliable to an inverter via the system main relays kept in the conductive state, thereby the vehicle is travelable by using a vehicle travel-power motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yutaka Koyama
  • Patent number: 11005110
    Abstract: An energy supply system for a consumer unit with safety-relevant electronic consumers has an energy supply network with a main energy supply source for feeding electrical energy into the energy supply network in the normal operating mode of the energy supply system and an energy detection device for detecting the electrical energy being fed into the energy supply network by the main energy supply source. At least one thermal battery feeds electrical energy into the energy supply network in an emergency operating mode of the energy supply system if the electrical energy being fed into the energy supply network from the main energy supply source is insufficient. A controller switches the energy supply system into the emergency operating mode and activates the at least one thermal battery if the energy which is detected by the first energy detection device undershoots a predetermined threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Diehl Stiftung & Co. KG
    Inventor: Robert Westphal
  • Patent number: 10994393
    Abstract: To provide a rotary impact tool capable of: suppressing a rise in temperature in a motor or switching elements and a current flowing in the motor or switching elements while suppressing a degradation in tightening performance; and improving operability. The rotary impact tool includes: a motor; an end-bit holding part driven by the motor; an impact mechanism provided on a drive transmission path from the motor to the end-bit holding part and configured to intermittently produce rotary impacts, the rotary impacts transmitting a drive force of the motor to the end-bit holding part; a switching element configured to change a voltage supplied to the motor; and a control unit controlling the switching element. The control unit is configured such that the voltage supplied to the motor begins to gradually rise within a period of time from a timing when a first rotary impact ends to a timing when a second rotary impact subsequent to the first rotary impact starts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Koki Holdings Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuhiro Harada, Tomomasa Nishikawa, Tatsuya Ito, Takahiro Hirai, Yang Li
  • Patent number: 10997282
    Abstract: A method for triggering a security-relevant function of a system by a terminal including generating or selecting an input pattern by the system; inputting a request to carry out the function by the terminal; transmitting the input pattern to the terminal; displaying the input pattern on a display and user interface of the terminal, which pattern must be input by a user; capturing and storing an input by a user on the display and user interface by the terminal; transmitting the captured and stored input from the terminal to the system; receiving the captured and stored input by the system; comparing the received input with the transmitted input pattern in the system; and carrying out the function by the system in response to the received input matching the input pattern within a predefined extent. Also disclosed is an associated system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Juri Remele, Mirko Mrowczynski, Hendrik Frank
  • Patent number: 10998739
    Abstract: Electrical battery device having at least one module string, in which multiple module units each including at least one battery module are electrically interconnected one after another in a series, wherein one end of the series is electrically connected to a respective battery terminal of the battery device. A respective bridging circuit is provided in the at least one module string in each case for each of its module units, which is configured to alternately bridge the respective module unit and interrupt the bridging again in dependence on a switching signal, wherein a control unit is configured to bridge at least some of the module units in chronological succession and chronologically thereafter to interrupt the bridgings again by setting the switching signal in periodically successive switching sequences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Michael Hinterberger, Berthold Hellenthal, André Blum
  • Patent number: 10981594
    Abstract: An exemplary method for controlling a vehicle includes providing a vehicle steering system, the vehicle steering system including a moveable steering column assembly and a motor coupled to the steering column assembly, providing a sensor connected to the motor and configured to measure a motor characteristic, providing a controller electronically connected to the sensor and the vehicle steering system, monitoring, by the controller, sensor data received from the sensor if a trigger condition is satisfied, analyzing, by the controller, the sensor data related to the motor characteristic to determine if an overload condition is satisfied, and if the overload condition is satisfied, automatically generating, by the controller, a control signal to control the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Raed N. Abuaita, John T Zuzelski, Bo Yu
  • Patent number: 10981467
    Abstract: A vehicle power supply apparatus includes a generator, a first electricity storage, a second electricity storage, a switch, a generator controller, and a switch controller. The generator controller controls the generator into a first electric power generation state and a second electric power generation state higher in electric power generation voltage than the first electric power generation state. The switch controller controls the switch into an electrically-conductive state and a cutoff state. The switch controller controls the switch into the electrically-conductive state and the generator controller controls the generator into the first electric power generation state when a high-load apparatus is stopped. The high-load apparatus is one of a plurality of electrical loads coupled to the first electricity storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takahiro Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 10981526
    Abstract: A system includes a first DCDC converter arranged to output electrical power only to a first battery and to first loads in a first specified set. The first specified set includes loads provided to control and perform steering and braking. The system further includes a second DCDC converter arranged to output electrical power to loads isolated from the first loads provided to control and perform steering and braking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Celinske, Mathew Alan Boesch
  • Patent number: 10981455
    Abstract: The electric vehicle includes a first battery, a second battery having an output weight density higher than that of the first battery and an energy weight density lower than that of the first battery, a motor generator, an electric power conversion circuit, and a control device for controlling the electric power conversion circuit. The control device controls the electric power conversion circuit so that, during a powering operation of the motor generator, at least a part of electric power necessary for changing a vehicle speed among requested electric power is discharged from the second battery, and remaining electric power obtained by subtracting the electric power discharged from the second battery from the requested electric power is discharged from the first battery; and it controls the electric power conversion circuit so that, during a regenerative operation of the motor generator, electric power generated is charged to the second battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuto Otsuki, Hirokazu Oguma
  • Patent number: 10974671
    Abstract: A vehicular circuit body includes a trunk line that extends in a front-and-rear direction of a vehicle, a plurality of control boxes that are provided on the trunk line, and a branch line that connects the control box to an accessory. The trunk line and the branch line each includes a power line having a predetermined current capacity and a communication line having a predetermined communication capacity. The vehicle is divided into a plurality of regions. At least two control boxes are disposed in the regions which are different from each other, each of which includes a gateway conversing communication methods for the communication line of the branch line and the communication line of the trunk line. A plurality of the gateways are able to communicate with each other via the communication line of the trunk line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    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: 10974611
    Abstract: A motor-driven vehicle includes a system main relay that is attached to a running electric power line connecting a power storage device to a drive circuit, a capacitor that is attached to the running electric power line between the system main relay and the drive circuit, and a charging relay that is attached to a charging electric power line connecting a vehicle-side connector to the running electric power line between the system main relay and the drive circuit. When a stand-side connector is disconnected from the vehicle-side connector while the power storage device is being charged with electric power from a direct-current charging stand, the charging relay and the system main relay are turned off, a two-pole welding abnormality of the charging relay is diagnosed using a voltage of the capacitor, and then the capacitor is discharged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koichi Kojima, Akito Motohira, Tomoya Ono, Yuya Aoki, Shingo Yumoto, Takeshi Aridome
  • Patent number: 10974748
    Abstract: A vehicle advisory system and method determine whether a vehicle system moving along a route is within a designated distance of a feature of interest, initiate a distance-based alert sequence of an advisory device of the vehicle system in response to determining that the vehicle system is at or within the designated distance of the feature of interest, and generate advisory signals using the advisory device according to the distance-based alert sequence. The advisory signals are indicative of passage of the vehicle system by the feature of interest during the distance-based alert sequence. The distance-based alert sequence dictates one or more of plural different commencement locations or commencement distances at which advisory signals are generated by the advisory device. The distance-based alert sequence also dictates one or more of plural different termination locations or termination distances where generation of the advisory signals by the advisory device is terminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: WESTINGHOUSE AIR BRAKE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kevin Angel, Ann Grimm
  • Patent number: 10978888
    Abstract: A battery system including: a plurality of battery modules; a plurality of switches configured to switch a connection state of the plurality of battery modules between a series state and a parallel state; and an electronic control unit configured: to control switching of the plurality of switches; and to fix ON-OFF states of the plurality of switches such that the connection state of the plurality of battery modules is the series state or the parallel state when a deterioration parameter indicating a degree of deterioration of a predetermined battery module out of the plurality of battery modules reaches a threshold value, the ON-OFF state representing a state in which a switch is open or closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomoya Ono
  • Patent number: 10960885
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide a control system configured to control a driveline of a motor vehicle to operate in a selected one of a plurality of configurations, the control system being configured to receive an environment indication signal indicative of an environment surrounding the vehicle, the control system being configured to determine, based on the environment indication signal, whether there is a need to pre-emptively brake the vehicle before brake torque is demanded of a braking system of the vehicle and the control system being configured, when it is determined that there is a need to pre-emptively brake the vehicle, to cause the driveline to operate in a second configuration and not a first configuration, wherein in the first configuration a first group of one or more wheels are arranged to be driven by the driveline and in the second configuration the first group of one or more wheels and in addition a second group of one or more wheels are arranged to be driven by the drivel
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: JAGUAR LAND ROVER LIMITED
    Inventors: Rob Jerger, Russell Osborn, Christopher Harries
  • Patent number: 10965205
    Abstract: A power conversion system for vehicles is provided. The system includes a first energy storage device and a charging device with a rectification circuit for rectifying AC power to generate a DC link voltage. A DC-DC converter converts the level of the DC link voltage to generate a charging voltage of the first energy storage device. A low voltage DC-DC converter selectively down-converts one of the voltage of the first energy storage device and the DC link voltage to output a low voltage having a predetermined level. The low voltage DC-DC converter selectively converts one of the voltage of the first energy storage device and the DC link voltage into the low voltage based on whether the first energy storage device is charged according to input of the AC power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Tae Jong Ha, In Yong Yeo, Dae Woo Lee, Youn Sik Lee
  • Patent number: 10958096
    Abstract: A power supply system including: a first battery connected to a first load; a second battery; a DC-DC converter connecting the first battery and the second battery; and a connection switching unit including a first switch configured to connect the first battery to a second load and a second switch configured to connect the second battery to the second load. The connection switching unit is configured to switch selectively to a first mode in which the first switch is closed and the second switch is opened and a second mode in which the first switch is opened and the second switch is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Minoru Hida, Akihiro Ozeki, Kohei Nishi
  • Patent number: 10946865
    Abstract: A power circuit includes a power source and a plurality components that connect the power source to a subsystem of a vehicle. A fault detection module receives voltages at an output of the power source and at an input of the subsystem and current drawn by the subsystem, and distinguishes between a power source failure, a permanent and an intermittent disconnection of one of the components from the power source, and a loose connection between the power circuit and the subsystem or corrosion of one of the components, based on analyses of the voltages and the current. A fault mitigation module mitigates the first two faults by switching to a different power source in the vehicle to supply power to the subsystem, and mitigates the third and fourth faults by reducing the power consumed by the subsystem and by generating a warning regarding the intermittent disconnection or loose connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Wen-Chiao Lin, Xinyu Du, Alexander M. Allan, Robert A. De Stefano, Xiaofeng Mao
  • Patent number: 10946746
    Abstract: A vehicle power system includes loads, a battery coupled to the loads, an ultra-capacitor coupled to the battery, and a bypass circuit. The loads, the ultra-capacitor, and the battery are electrically coupled in series. The bypass circuit monitors the ultra-capacitor and prevents the ultra-capacitor from over-discharging and reversing in polarity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Hudson, David Celinske, John Anthony DeMarco, Farouq Mozip
  • Patent number: 10946747
    Abstract: To provide a vehicle in which an increase or fluctuations in engine vibration or noise during external electric power supply can be suppressed. A vehicle includes an electric power generation device, a battery connected to the electric power generation device via a power line, an external electric power supply device that interconnects the power line and external equipment, and an ECU that controls charging and discharging of the electric power generation device and the battery. The ECU starts an engine and supplies electric power generated by a generator to the battery and the external equipment in a case where a SOC is equal to or less than a use lower limit SOC and supplies the external equipment with electric power from the battery in a case where the SOC exceeds a use upper limit SOC. In addition, the ECU executes fixed point control for controlling the engine and the generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xiang Liu, Yoshihiro Sunaga, Tadaaki Tsuji
  • Patent number: 10948550
    Abstract: An Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) system is provided which includes an input configured to receive input power, an output configured to provide output power to a load, power conversion circuitry coupled to the input and the output, a capacitor coupled to the power conversion circuitry, and a controller coupled to the power conversion circuitry. The controller is configured to determine a first value indicative of an equivalent series resistance of the capacitor, determine, based on the first value, if the capacitor satisfies at least one criterion, and execute, responsive to determining that the relative value satisfies the at least one criterion, one or more actions to address degradation of the capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC IT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jonas Sonsby Mouridsen
  • Patent number: 10948971
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide systems, apparatus, and methods for powering electronic devices with low voltage batteries. Embodiments include a circuit including a transistor having a base, an emitter, and a collector; a microcontroller having an output port, a system power terminal, and an input port; a first signal generated from the output port of the microcontroller and coupled to an enable pin of a DC-DC booster; and a second signal generated from the output port of the microcontroller and coupled to the base of the transistor, wherein the second signal is an inverted version of the first signal. The emitter of the transistor is coupled to ground and the collector of the transistor is coupled to the enable pin of the DC-DC booster. Numerous additional aspects are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Ascensia Diabetes Care Holdings AG
    Inventor: Igor Y. Gofman
  • Patent number: 10933735
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle capable of suppressing the inflow of an overcurrent from a rotating electrical machine to a battery side as a result of a reverse voltage generated when the rotating electrical machine is operated as an electric power generator. A control device controls a switch disposed between a battery and an inverter to an OFF state if an abnormality is detected in a motor or the inverter. At this time, the control device controls a switch disposed between the battery on the one hand and auxiliary equipment and a motor on the other hand to an ON state, causing the vehicle to continue to run using the motor or an engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinji Mikami
  • Patent number: 10938233
    Abstract: A battery storage system, for supplying electrical power to at least one electrical vehicle function, which is redundantly connected to the battery storage system by a first supply branch and a second supply branch includes a first connection and a second connection configured to connect to the first and the second supply branches; at least one ground connection; a connection line, which connects the first and the second connections; a cross-isolating switching apparatus arranged in the connection line and configured to interrupt the connection line; a first energy storage unit connected to the connection line between the first connection and the cross-isolating switching apparatus; and a second energy storage unit connected to the connection line between the second connection and the cross-isolating switching apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Fabian Schipperges, Tihomir Tomanic, Christoph Kukral, Dennis Berger
  • Patent number: 10926714
    Abstract: A vehicular camera assembly includes a front housing portion accommodating a lens, a circuit board having an imager and an electrical connecting element at opposite sides thereof, a rear housing portion and an electrical connector. The rear housing portion includes a rear attachment portion that has an aperture therethrough. The electrical connector electrically connects a wire of the vehicle to the electrical connecting element of the circuit board. The electrical connector includes an electrically conductive element that is electrically conductively connected to an outer ground contact of the connector. The rear housing portion includes a shield element having flexible tabs that protrude through the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Steven V. Byrne, Jonathan D. Conger, Nazar F. Bally
  • Patent number: 10931304
    Abstract: Disclosed are techniques for encoding a set of sensor content symbols at least in part via applying a processing window of an adjustable size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Arm IP Limited
    Inventors: Michael Bartling, Kevin Olen Gilbert, James M. Brisson
  • Patent number: 10930908
    Abstract: The invention relates to a battery module housing (2001, . . . 2004) for a battery pack (10), characterized in that: the battery module housing (2001, . . . 2004) can contain a large number of battery cells (100111, . . . 100432) which each have a large wall surface (1201, 1202) and a small wall surface (1301, 1302), of which small wall surface the surface area is less than a surface area of the large wall surface (1201, 1202), wherein the battery cells (100119, 100129, 100132, 100142, 100219, 100229, 100232, 100242, 100319, 100329, 100332, 100342, 100419, 100432) which can be arranged adjacent to outer sides of the battery pack (10) can be oriented in such a way that their large wall surfaces (1201, 1202) run along the outer sides, so that a force which acts on one of the outer sides can initially be received by one of the large wall surfaces (1201, 1202), and also to a battery module (201, 204), to a battery pack (10), to a battery, to a vehicle and also to a method for producing a battery module (201, . .
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Rainer Menig, Alfons Doerr, Andreas Lemke, Andreas Selent, Benjamin Mangold, Benjamin Kopp, Berengar Krieg, Carsten Mueller, Jochen Schweinbenz, Johannes Teuber, Marcus Hildenbrand, Maximilian Russ-Mohl, Stefan Baumann, Steffen Benz, Timo Kegel, Torsten Koller, Xiaofeng Yan, Christian Buder
  • Patent number: 10926642
    Abstract: An electric vehicle includes an electrical storage device, a charging device that charges the electrical storage device when connected to the external power supply device, a ground fault detection device including a ground fault detection circuit and configured to detect a ground fault while the electrical storage device is being charged, and a controller that carries out communication with the external power supply device and carries out communication with the ground fault detection device. The controller acquires a common-mode noise margin of the external power supply device and transmits a ground fault detection time based on the common-mode noise margin to the ground fault detection device. The ground fault detection device detects a ground fault when the ground fault detection time has elapsed from when the ground fault detection circuit is set to a state where a ground fault is detectable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomokazu Masuda
  • Patent number: 10919465
    Abstract: A vehicular circuit body provided in a vehicle, includes: a trunk line that extends in at least a front-and-rear direction of the vehicle; and a plurality of control boxes that are provided in the trunk line, in which the trunk line includes power source lines of two systems and a communication line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    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: 10919462
    Abstract: A circuit body for a vehicle is wired on a vehicle body of the vehicle for performing supply of electric power to an electrical component and communication of various communication signals with the electrical component. The circuit body includes: a plurality of control boxes separately disposed on the circuit body and capable of controlling input and output of at least one of the electric power and the communication signal; a trunk line harness connecting one of the plurality of control boxes and another of the plurality of control boxes; and a branch line harness connecting the control box and the electrical component. The trunk line harness includes a power line for transmitting electric power and a communication line for transmitting communication signals in a separated state. An end portion of the power line and an end portion of the communication line are connected to the control box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masashi Nakamura, Masahiro Furukawa, Satoshi Enomoto, Akiyoshi Kanazawa
  • Patent number: 10919474
    Abstract: A system includes a rail including a capacitive transmitter, a computer programmed to send an actuation identifier code along the capacitive transmitter, and a plurality of seats supported by the rail, each seat including a seat controller communicatively connected to the capacitive transmitter. Each seat controller is programmed to actuate a safety device when a device identifier code corresponding to the safety device matches the actuation identifier code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alan George Dry, Mark A. Cuddihy, Derek Board, Jimmy Moua, Johnathan Andrew Line
  • Patent number: 10924140
    Abstract: A transmitting apparatus includes a first signal outputter configured to output a first signal to a receiving apparatus via a first line; and a communicator connected to a second line that connects a receiving-side ground node and the first signal outputter with an AC connection, the receiving-side ground node being supplied with a ground potential of the receiving apparatus, and the communicator being configured to transmit a second signal from the transmitting apparatus to the receiving apparatus by causing a direct current, a magnitude of which changes based on a logic level of the second signal, to flow in the second line, or to receive the second signal from the receiving apparatus by detecting a magnitude of a direct current flowing in the second line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: YAMAHA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Mikio Kitano
  • Patent number: 10913411
    Abstract: A power relay device is provided that relays power from a power source and supplies the power to an electric component. The power relay device includes a main device body, a terminal cover, and a holding unit. The main device body includes a power source terminal electrically connected to the power source and a load terminal electrically connected to the electric component. The terminal cover includes a connection terminal electrically connectable to a connected subject that is one of the power source terminal and the load terminal. The holding unit selectively sets a temporary holding state in which the connection terminal is electrically disconnected from the connected subject or a final holding state in which the connection terminal is electrically connected to the connected subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignees: SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Tsuruta, Kentaro Wakebe
  • Patent number: 10907436
    Abstract: An improved emergency power system is disclosed for providing electrical power to a load such as a blowout preventer of a petroleum drilling apparatus. The improved emergency power system comprises a thermal battery having an anode and a cathode with a separator containing an electrolyte disposed therebetween. An internal heat layer is located in proximity to the separator containing the electrolyte. A squib is provided for activating the internal heat layer. The thermal battery remains dormant until the squib is energized to ignite the squib enabling the heat layer to render the electrolyte molten thereby activating battery to provide electrical power to the load. The squib may be energized remotely, mechanically or electrically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: ENERSYS
    Inventors: Bradford A Wood, James K Pugh, Juan A Cubero
  • Patent number: 10903158
    Abstract: A semiconductor arrangement includes a circuit board having a metallization layer with first and second conductor tracks, and individual semiconductor chips each having a controllable semiconductor element, first and second load electrodes, and a control electrode. The first conductor track has a base section and further sections extending from the base section. The second conductor track has sections. The further sections of the first conductor track and the sections of the second conductor track extend parallel to one another in a first direction at least over a same lateral dimension of the individual semiconductor chips. The further sections of the first conductor track alternate with the sections of the second conductor track in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The individual semiconductor chips are arranged on the sections of the second conductor track. The first load electrodes are connected to the further sections of the first conductor track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Waldemar Jakobi, Christoph Koch