Electric Vehicle Patents (Class 701/22)
  • Patent number: 11009553
    Abstract: A battery management system includes multiple sensors, status detection circuitry, and fault detection circuitry. The sensors sense statuses of a battery pack. The status detection circuitry detects whether the battery pack is in a normal condition based on the statuses to generate a detection result. The fault detection circuitry detects whether a fault is present in the battery pack. The sensors include a current sensor that senses a battery current of the battery pack. The fault detection circuitry includes a detection circuit that monitors a rate of change of a voltage at a terminal of the battery pack, and detects whether a fault is present in the current sensor based on a result of a comparison between the rate of change and a threshold and based on the detection result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: O2Micro Inc.
    Inventor: Guoxing Li
  • Patent number: 11007897
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes an engine, a motor generator, a battery, and an ECU (Electronic Control Unit). The ECU is configured to calculate an evaluation value indicating a degree of progress of deterioration of the battery, the deterioration being caused by an imbalance in a salt concentration in the battery, and is configured to execute a high-rate deterioration suppressing control that raises a target SOC (State of Charge) of the battery when the battery is evaluated to be deteriorated in accordance with the evaluation value. The ECU is configured to also raise the target SOC when an actual SOC is increased due to an electric power generation by the motor generator during the execution of the high-rate deterioration suppressing control. The raised target SOC is lower than the increased actual SOC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, DENSO Ten Limited
    Inventors: Yu Nakao, Koji Hokoi, Yoshimitsu Takahashi, Yoshihiro Uchida, Kazuki Furuta, Kazuto Roppongi
  • Patent number: 11001163
    Abstract: An electrified vehicle according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a battery including a first strand of cells and a second strand of cells, an electric machine selectively powered by the battery, and at least one auxiliary component selectively powered by the battery. The battery is configurable such that the at least one auxiliary component is able to draw power from the first strand of cells but not the second strand of cells. A method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Zenner, Daniel Benjamin Kok
  • Patent number: 11001148
    Abstract: To appropriately limit a current output from an inverter to a motor according to a state of a cooling mechanism that cools the motor and the inverter. A motor control unit includes a current command unit configured to calculate current command values (Id*, Iq*) for determining a current to be output to a motor on the basis of an input torque command, a motor lock determination unit configured to determine whether the motor is in a locked state on the basis of a motor rotation speed Nrpm indicating a rotation state of the motor, and a torque command limitation unit configured to limit the current to be output to the motor by limiting the torque command on the basis of a cooling water temperature Tc indicating a state of the cooling mechanism in a case where the motor lock determination unit determines that the motor is in the locked state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Hirokazu Matsui, Atsushi Komuro, Kohei Myoen
  • Patent number: 11001248
    Abstract: A powertrain optimization method is used to identify the optimal torque operating range. The method for controlling the vehicle includes: receiving, by a planning controller, a trip plan based on an input from a vehicle-operator, wherein the trip plan is indicative of a planned trip; determining, by the planning controller, a current location of the vehicle using a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) of the vehicle; determining, by the planning controller, a geography of the planned trip using map data from a map database; determining, by the planning controller, a target speed profile for the vehicle as a function of the trip plan, the geography of the planned trip, and a predetermined, optimal acceleration range; determining, by an adaptive cruise controller, a torque request as a function of the target speed profile, a predetermined-optimal torque range, and a current speed of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Paul A. Adam, Gabriel T. Choi, Xiaofeng F. Song
  • Patent number: 11001249
    Abstract: A motor vehicle according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, at least one power source. The motor vehicle is operable as a generator to supply power from the at least one power source to an auxiliary load. The motor vehicle also includes a controller configured to estimate a range of the motor vehicle based on a state of the at least one power source, and to command the motor vehicle to stop operating as a generator when the estimated range reaches a threshold range. A method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jordan Mazaira, Joseph George, Seth Anthony Bryan
  • Patent number: 11001162
    Abstract: A vehicle power supply device includes a relay controller. When a low voltage switching request is made to set a mode for supplying electric power from a switching module group to a low voltage power supply, the relay controller is configured to perform in sequence a first process of switching a first main relay and a second main relay to an open state, a second process of connecting a first switching relay to a second electrode terminal of the low voltage power supply and switching a second switching relay to a closed state, a third process of switching a precharge relay to a closed state and switching a third switching relay to a closed state, a fourth process of switching the second main relay to a closed state, and a fifth process of switching the precharge relay to an open state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Reina Yamada, Kenji Kataoka, Hiroshi Sato, Koji Murakami, Ken Yoshida, Shin Okumura
  • Patent number: 11001337
    Abstract: A human-powered vehicle control device includes an electronic controller that controls a motor used to assist in propulsion of a human-powered vehicle. The electronic controller is selectively settable to a first control state that controls the motor in accordance with human drive force and a second control state that controls the motor in accordance with human drive force so that a ratio of an output of the motor to the human drive force is greater than that of the first control state. In the first control state, the electronic controller controls the motor so that a response speed of the motor with respect to a change in the human drive force is equal to a first response speed. In the second control state, the electronic controller controls the motor so that the response speed is equal to a second response speed that is slower than the first response speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Tsuchizawa
  • Patent number: 10994679
    Abstract: An onboard electrical system for a motor vehicle is provided having a primary power supply network and a secondary power supply network electrically connected to the primary power supply network via a DC-DC converter, wherein the primary power supply network and the secondary power supply network are connected to one another via a blocking diode of the DC-DC converter and the blocking diode has a forward direction thereof oriented from the primary power supply network toward the secondary power supply network, and wherein an insulation monitoring device having a measuring resistor is associated with the secondary power supply network for determining an insulation fault. It is provided that an additional resistor is connected in parallel with the blocking diode for bridging thereof, such that an insulation fault common to the primary power supply network and the secondary power supply network can be determined by the insulation monitoring device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Kai Müller, Maximilian Schiedermeier, Martin Breu
  • Patent number: 10994719
    Abstract: A method of controlling the hybrid vehicle in which electric power of the battery and electric power generated by an electric generator are supplied to a drive device, a running load of the drive motor is estimated on the basis of the driver's requirement, and a first distance to empty that allows for running in a state where the estimated running load is fulfilled is calculated on the basis of an amount of charge remaining in the battery and an amount of fuel remaining used to drive the fuel cell. Then, a required running distance is estimated on the basis of the driver's requirement, and, on the basis of the first distance to empty and the required running distance, a necessary energy replenishment operation is notified to the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takeaki Obata
  • Patent number: 10994720
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a method for operating a start-stop system of a motor vehicle. The method include cutting off a drive motor when the speed of the motor vehicle falls below a speed threshold. The speed threshold is determined depending on at least one piece of environment-related information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Alexander Kruse
  • Patent number: 10994771
    Abstract: A method for managing a vehicle assisted steering system including one assistance function intended to help a driver drive the vehicle and one safety function intended to give assistance function a predetermined ASIL level as defined by the ISO-26262 standard, the assistance function and safety function each make use of a vehicle speed indicator parameter, including a step of estimating a functional speed of the actual longitudinal speed of the vehicle, used by default as the vehicle speed indicator parameter, a step of estimating a speed upper bound, a step of calculating an underestimated speed resulting from the application, to the speed upper bound, of a reduction value derived from a reduction law, and, if the functional speed is lower than the underestimated speed, and a step of switching in which the underestimated speed is substituted for the functional speed as the vehicle speed indicator parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: JTEKT EUROPE
    Inventors: Olivier Barry, Luc Leydier, Romain Moretti
  • Patent number: 10994805
    Abstract: A human-powered vehicle control device includes an electronic controller that controls a motor. The motor assists in propulsion of a human-powered vehicle including a transmission configured to change, in steps, a first ratio of a rotational speed of a drive wheel to a rotational speed of a rotary body to which human drive force is input. The controller controls the motor in a first control state if the first ratio is changed by only one step during a predetermined period or a signal is received for changing the first ratio by one step during the predetermined period. The controller controls the motor in a second control state that differs from the first control state if the first ratio is changed by at least two steps during the predetermined period or a signal is received for changing the first ratio by at least two steps during the predetermined period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Satoshi Shahana
  • Patent number: 10988914
    Abstract: To achieve saving of fuel consumption and noise reduction by adopting a hybrid type and miniaturizing an engine and to ensure safe and reliable battery charging in a case in which a charge amount of a battery is quite insufficient, a hydraulic work machine includes: a gate lock sensor (28); a forced charging switch (41); a work machine monitor (43) that notifies an operator that a charging rate of a battery (33) falls to be lower than a critical charging rate; and a machine controller (46). The machine controller (46) actuates a generator motor (31) as a generator to forcedly charge the battery (33) when a gate lock lever (26) is operated to a lock position (D), an engine control dial (12) designates a low idle engine speed, and the forced charging switch (41) is operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Tierra Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Hajime Yoshida, Shuuhei Noguchi, Motoaki Ishii
  • Patent number: 10988130
    Abstract: A method for controlling continuous and discrete actuators (e.g., modes) in a powertrain system includes receiving preview information from a sensor(s) describing an upcoming dynamic state at a future time point, and providing control inputs for the actuators to a controller that includes the preview information. The input set collectively describes a future torque or speed output state at the future time point. The controller processes the input set via a dynamical predictive model, in real time, to determine control solutions to take at the present time point for implementing the dynamic state at the future time point. A lowest opportunity cost control solution is determined and optimized. The controller executes the optimized solution at the present time step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Ibrahim Haskara, Chen-fang Chang
  • Patent number: 10988142
    Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle includes applying torque to a set of tires to cause the vehicle to move along a surface, reducing an amount of downward force applied to the surface by a first tire from the set of tires using an active suspension component, and actuating the first tire to control the dynamic response of the first tire relative to the surface. The method also includes determining a traction force of the first tire relative to the surface at each of multiple values for the dynamic response of the first tire relative to the surface, and determining a maximum available traction force based on the multiple values of the dynamic response and the corresponding values for the traction force. The method also includes determining a friction parameter based on the maximum available traction force, and controlling an operation of the vehicle based on the friction parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Prateek Mehrotra, Christopher D. Gadda
  • Patent number: 10988043
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an electric power converter; an electric power storage device; a control unit. The control unit is configured to i) increase command electric power stepwise by a specified reference amount toward target electric power, ii) after the command electric power reaches the target electric power, reduce the command electric power each time a voltage of the electric power storage device exceeds a first threshold voltage, and iii) stop supply of electric power from an external power supply when the voltage of the electric power storage device reaches a second threshold voltage that is higher than the first threshold voltage. The specified reference amount is set such that an increased amount of the voltage of the electric power storage device at each step of increasing the command electric power is smaller than a voltage difference between the second threshold voltage and the first threshold voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masaru Kimura
  • Patent number: 10988037
    Abstract: A vehicle can include: a solar charging panel mounted to the vehicle and configured to acquire solar energy for charging a battery of the vehicle; a communication module configured to collect weather information and date-and-time information at a plurality of positions along a traveling path from an origin to a destination; a storage configured to store road information; and a controller configured to calculate a solar charging energy of the traveling path by predicting a maximum solar charging energy to be charged through the solar charging panel based on the weather information collected at the plurality of positions along the traveling path, and to calculate a solar charging prediction amount based on the date-and-time information collected at the plurality of positions along the traveling path, an amount by which to reduce the solar charging energy determined according to the stored road information relating to the traveling path, and the predicted maximum solar charging energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Seungjae Yum, Seungwan Son, Jungsoo Park, Won Young Jeong
  • Patent number: 10981469
    Abstract: A desired departure temperature is determined for a battery, having a temperature, in a vehicle based at least in part on trip information associated with a trip. A temperature controlling system is used to bring the temperature of the battery towards the desired departure temperature, wherein the vehicle begins the trip with the battery at the desired departure temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: WISK AERO LLC
    Inventors: Thomas P. Muniz, Ke Zhang, John Melack
  • Patent number: 10981629
    Abstract: A gear shift controller includes a detection circuit and a control unit. The detection circuit is configured to determine traveling state information about a traveling state of a human-powered vehicle. The control unit is configured to receive the traveling state information from the detection circuit to control a shift standby time of a transmission of the human-powered vehicle. The traveling state information includes information other than traveling speed information about a traveling speed of the human-powered vehicle and crank information about crank rotation information of the human-powered vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Satoshi Shahana
  • Patent number: 10985387
    Abstract: A fuel cell system comprises a fuel cell supplied with fuel and air to generate electricity, an evaporator evaporating the fuel, an off-gas heating device heating an off-gas discharged from the fuel cell to produce a heating gas, a fuel cell heating device heating the fuel cell using the heating gas, an evaporator heating device heating the evaporator using the heating gas, a fuel cell temperature acquisition unit, an evaporator temperature acquisition unit, and a controller configured to, in a warm-up operation to perform a warm-up of the evaporator and a warm-up of the fuel cell, control at least one of the evaporator heating device and the fuel cell heating device based on the temperature of the evaporator and the temperature of the fuel cell to adjust at least one of a heating amount of the evaporator and a heating amount of the air by the heating gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinichi Miyazaki, Hayato Chikugo, Masashi Sato, Tatsuya Yaguchi
  • Patent number: 10974612
    Abstract: A power electronics system of an electricity charging station having the following features: a first DC voltage converter, a first DC chopper connected to the first DC voltage converter for connection of a battery to the charging station and a second DC chopper connected to the first DC voltage converter for connection of an electric automobile to the charging station and a corresponding electricity charging station,
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Inventors: Raoul Heyne, Florian Joslowski, Michael Kiefer, Thomas Speidel, Ali Natour
  • Patent number: 10974609
    Abstract: A charging device charges energy stores of an electrical machine arrangement for a motor vehicle. The charging device has a primary side with a first connection for connection to a power supply system and a secondary side with a second connection for connection to a second energy store. The charging device has, on the primary side, a third connection for connection to a first energy store and is provided with a control circuit for switching over the load flux such that, via the second connection, energy can be transmitted from the second energy store, via the third connection, to the first energy store.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Dominik Gruber, Joerg Reuss
  • Patent number: 10975780
    Abstract: A system and method for limiting a speed of a vehicle is disclosed. The vehicle includes an ECU in communication with and configured to control the engine. The ECU has a plurality of pins, a jumper plug connected to the plurality of pins, and a cap selected from a group of caps, each of which is configured to create a different limit circuit when installed on the jumper plug. The ECU is configured to limit the speed of the vehicle to a predetermined speed when the limit circuit is detected by the ECU based on the detected cap. The ECU, jumper plug, and cap are covered by a cover secured to the frame of the vehicle by fasteners that require a tool to remove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: David J. Wishin, Kevin Stockmeier
  • Patent number: 10976170
    Abstract: An electric vehicle routing system comprising a route determination module configured to receive, via a graphical user interface (GUI) module, user input data defining, for a desired journey of a vehicle in which the vehicle routing system is installed, a start location in a road network, a destination location in the road network, and at least one waypoint in the road network. On the basis of the received user input data, data received from a vehicle battery status monitoring module, data retrieved from a road network storage database and data retrieved from a charging network storage database, the route determination module determines at least one route in the road network from the start location to the destination location via the at least one waypoint and transmits data associated with the at least one determined route to the GUI module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Morgan Brown Consultancy Ltd.
    Inventor: David Morgan-Brown
  • Patent number: 10974715
    Abstract: A hybrid electric vehicle and a driving mode control method are provided to prevent overheating of an electric motor. The hybrid electric vehicle is chargeable using external power. The method includes collecting forward driving information when a state of charge of a battery is equal to or greater than a first value and calculating a driving load for each section based on the forward driving information. A risk of overheating of an electric motor is predicted using the calculated driving load. The vehicle is driven in a first mode using drive power of an engine in a section in which the predicted risk of overheating is greater than a second value and in a second mode using drive power of the electric motor in a section in which the predicted risk of overheating is equal to or less than a preset value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Joon Young Park, Sung Hoon Yu, Jea Mun Lee, Jung Min Cha, Ji Hoon Kang, Sung Deok Kim
  • Patent number: 10967787
    Abstract: A vehicle and a method of controlling the vehicle for adjusting a sound pressure of a virtual engine sound based on external noise are provided. The vehicle may include: a speaker to output a virtual engine sound; a microphone to receive external sound generated outside of the vehicle; and a controller configured to extract noise by separating the virtual engine sound from the external sound, determine each peak sound pressure of a plurality of peak sound pressures as a peak point, identify a plurality of equalizer (EQ) filters having a predetermined bandwidth, generate an amplification filter by combining the plurality of EQ filters, apply the amplification filter to the virtual engine sound and control the speaker to output the virtual engine sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, KIA Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Youngbeom Kim
  • Patent number: 10972020
    Abstract: The control method for an electric vehicle sets a motor torque command value based on vehicle information and controls torque of a first motor connected to a first drive wheel which is one of a front drive wheel and a rear drive wheel. The control method for an electric vehicle calculates a first torque command value by a feedforward computation based on the motor torque command value, detects a rotation angular velocity of the first motor, and estimates a rotation angular velocity of the first motor based on the first torque command value by using a vehicle model Gp(s) that simulates a transfer characteristic from a torque input to the first drive wheel to a rotation angular velocity of the first motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Sawada, Ken Itou, Kengo Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 10971771
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a battery heating system and a control method thereof. The battery heating system includes a main positive switch, a main negative switch, an inverter, a motor, and a battery management unit. The inverter includes a first phase bridge arm, a second phase bridge arm and a third phase bridge arm connected in parallel. A motor controller in the inverter is configured to output a drive signal to a target upper-bridge-arm switch unit and a target lower-bridge-arm switch unit, so as to control the target upper-bridge-arm switch unit and the target lower-bridge-arm switch unit to be periodically turned on and off. The battery management unit is configured to collect state parameters of the battery pack. When the state parameters of the battery pack meet preset heating conditions, a control signal is sent to the motor controller to control the motor controller to output the drive signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited
    Inventors: Zhimin Dan, Xiyang Zuo, Wei Zhang, Yizhen Hou, Guowei Li, Xingyuan Wu, Yanru Li
  • Patent number: 10971755
    Abstract: A secondary battery includes a cathode, an anode, and a nonaqueous electrolytic solution. The nonaqueous electrolytic solution includes a compound represented by M+[(Z1Y1)(Z2Y2)N]? (where M is a metal element, each of Z1 and Z2 is one of groups such as as a fluorine group, and each of Y1 and Y2 is one of groups such as a sulfonyl group), a compound such as a compound represented by R1-CN (where R1 is a monovalent hydrocarbon group), and a compound such as a compound represented by R22-(CN)n (where R22 is an n-valent hydrocarbon group, and n is an integer of 2 or more). A content of the compound represented by [(Z1Y1)(Z2Y2)N]? in the nonaqueous electrolytic solution is within a range of 2.5 mol/dm3 to 6 mol/dm3 both inclusive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadahiko Kubota, Toru Odani, Hiroki Mita
  • Patent number: 10967870
    Abstract: A hill descent system for a vehicle and a control method thereof comprising: wheels; wheel speed sensors used for detecting the speeds of the wheels; motors used for selectively driving or braking the wheels; a motor controllers, for controlling the working states of the motors; resolver sensors for detecting the rotational speeds of the motors; and a vehicle control unit for determining the actual downhill speed of the vehicle and adjusting the working states of the motors to control the descent of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: BYD COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Heping Ling, Fanliang Meng, Mingchuan Shi, Yanfei Xiong, Weiqiang Chen
  • Patent number: 10968818
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine is provided having at least one turbocharger having a compressor and an exhaust gas turbine, at least two actuating members for controlling a boost pressure by the compressor, a measuring device for measuring at least one measurement signal, and a control device adapted to actuate the actuating members by varying a degree of opening of the actuating members. The control device of the internal combustion engine is configured to calculate a total degree of opening of the actuating members necessary to achieve a desired boost pressure provided by the compressor. This is in dependence on the at least one measurement signal. The control device is also configured to determine the total degree of opening split between each of the at least two actuating members, and to control each of the actuating members according to its individual degree of opening to reach the desired boost pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Innio Jenbacher GmbH & Co OG
    Inventors: Prashant Srinivasan, Hang Lu, Chandan Kumar, Karthikk R.
  • Patent number: 10960779
    Abstract: The present invention is an information processing device which registers in a map database, a charging point in which charging equipment is located at the time of charging of an electric vehicle, including a registration section that, in a case where the charging point is located within a facility area registered in the map database, registers in the map database, the charging point in association with positional information of the facility area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Koji Sagata
  • Patent number: 10960782
    Abstract: An adapter converts a dumb charger into a smart charger. A first input interface interconnects the adapter with a first charging connector of a charger. A second input interface interconnects the adapter with a second charging connector of an electric device. A wireless communications interface provides wireless connectivity to the adapter that is initiated responsive to connection of the first input interface with the first charging connector of the charger. Control circuitry interconnects the first input interface with the second input interface via a signaling connection for providing communications between the first input interface and the second input interface. The control circuitry further provides a power connection for selectively providing a charging signal from the first input interface to the second input interface responsive to commands received over the wireless communications interface and the signaling connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: POWER HERO CORP.
    Inventor: Esmond Goei
  • Patent number: 10960768
    Abstract: A vehicle power supply system includes a first power line to which a first inverter and a first battery are connected, a second power line to which a second inverter and a second battery are connected, a voltage converter, a charging and discharging control device that operates the inverters and the voltage converter, and a second regenerable electric power acquisition unit that acquires second regenerable electric power. The charging and discharging control device charges the second battery with second regenerative electric power that is power supplied from the second inverter to the second power line during regenerative deceleration, and supplies second surplus regenerative electric power to the first power line in a case where the second regenerative electric power is larger than the second regenerable electric power, wherein the second surplus regenerative electric power is obtained by excluding the second regenerable electric power from the second regenerative electric power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuya Oyama, Yuto Otsuki, Hirokazu Oguma
  • Patent number: 10960872
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating a driveline of a hybrid vehicle that includes an internal combustion engine, an electric machine, and a transmission are described. In one example, accelerator pedal position provides a basis for requesting vehicle acceleration and vehicle wheel torque is determined from the requested vehicle acceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Allen Doering, Jason Meyer, Yanan Zhao, David H. Schmitt, Xiaoyong Wang, Bradley Dean Riedle
  • Patent number: 10964211
    Abstract: A vehicle driving assistance device includes a driving assistance controller and an acquisition portion. The driving assistance controller includes a signal information acquisition part, a remaining distance calculator, and a driving assistance information output portion. The acquisition portion acquires information on (i) a vehicular speed and remaining distance to the intersection of an intersecting-side vehicle travelling on an intersecting road that joins a main road at the intersection, (ii) an arrival time when the intersecting-side vehicle arrives at the intersection, or (iii) lighting period information of an intersecting-side traffic signal. The driving assistance controller updates lighting period information of a main-side traffic signal based on information acquired from a road-to-vehicle communication transceiver, and outputs driving assistance information based on the updated lighting period information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takahiro Kurehashi
  • Patent number: 10960752
    Abstract: Provided is an electric vehicle includes a power control unit, a driving motor, a first cooling channel fitted with a first pump that causes a first cooling liquid cooled in a first heat exchanger to flow through the power control unit and a second heat exchanger in this order and return to the first heat exchanger, and a second cooling channel fitted with a second pump that causes a second cooling liquid cooled by the first cooling liquid in the second heat exchanger to flow through the driving motor and return to the second heat exchanger. The second pump starts or stops circulation of the second cooling liquid, or increases or reduces a circulation volume of the second cooling liquid, based on one or both of the temperature of the power control unit and the temperature of the first cooling liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Motoki Takeno, Hiroki Kato
  • Patent number: 10960883
    Abstract: A powertrain system for a vehicle is described, and includes an internal combustion engine that is selectively coupled to a driveline. The engine is configured to operate in a coasting mode, wherein the coasting mode includes operating the powertrain system with the engine in an OFF state and decoupled from the driveline. Devices are configured to monitor an output torque request, vehicle speed, and vehicle operating conditions. An executable instruction set monitors the vehicle speed and the output torque request. The engine is controlled to operate in the coasting mode when the output torque request is within the predetermined torque region and the vehicle speed is greater than a minimum speed threshold. The engine is controlled to discontinue operating in the coasting mode in response to the output torque request being outside the torque region of the vehicle speed being less than a minimum speed threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Goro Tamai, Birendra P Bhattarai, Daniel E Nicholson
  • Patent number: 10960897
    Abstract: A control system for a four-wheel drive vehicle configured to improve energy efficiency by avoiding selection of a four-wheel drive mode more than necessary. The control system comprises a controller that shifts an operating mode between a two-wheel drive mode and a four-wheel drive mode. When a control of the prime mover is terminated, the controller detects the operating mode selected by a switch before restarting the control of the prime mover. If the two-wheel drive mode or the four-wheel drive mode was selected by the switch before restarting the control of the prime mover, the controller selects the two-wheel drive mode when restarting the control of the prime mover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Norifumi Takada, Akio Sugawara
  • Patent number: 10953753
    Abstract: An electrified vehicle includes an electric power storage device, a drive device, a sensor, and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit causes transition of a traveling mode to an FS mode when a FS traveling condition is established. The electronic control unit detects a sign of an abnormality of an assembled battery using a detection value of a sensor when a sensor unit is normal. When the FS traveling condition is established and the sign of the abnormality of the assembled battery is not detected, the electronic control unit sets the FS mode to a predetermined first FS mode. When the FS traveling condition is established and the sign of the abnormality of the assembled battery is detected, the electronic control unit sets the FS mode to a second FS mode different from the predetermined first FS mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroki Tashiro
  • Patent number: 10953953
    Abstract: A bicycle controller controls a motor in accordance with the riding environment of a bicycle. The bicycle controller includes an electronic control unit that is configured to control a motor that assists in propulsion of a bicycle in accordance with operation of an operation unit provided on the bicycle. The electronic control unit is further configured to change an increasing speed of an output torque of the motor in accordance with at least one of an inclination angle of the bicycle and a change amount of the inclination angle of the bicycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Satoshi Shahana, Yasuhiro Tsuchizawa, Hiroshi Matsuda
  • Patent number: 10953721
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to an electrified vehicle with a climate controlled front trunk and a corresponding method. An example electrified vehicle includes a thermal management system configured to circulate fluid to thermally condition a battery, a front trunk, and a valve configured to selectively permit fluid from the thermal management system to thermally condition the front trunk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Jordan Gruber
  • Patent number: 10946752
    Abstract: The number of opportunities where external charging of a vehicle parked in a residential parking space or a charging station in a predetermined period is available is counted as the number of opportunities, and the number of times of the external charging performed in the opportunities in the same predetermined period is counted as the number of times of charging. The number of times of charging is then divided by the number of opportunities to calculate and store a charging frequency. Since the charging frequency is a ratio of the number of times that the external charging was performed to the number of opportunities where the external charging is available in the predetermined period, the ratio is used as an index that can offer more accurate determination regarding an external charging utilization status. As a result, various processing to promote external charging are executed more properly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinji Ichikawa, Hiroaki Takeuchi, Ryuta Ishida, Hiroaki Arakawa, Shigeki Kinomura, Keita Hashimoto, Akio Uotani, Kazuyuki Kagawa, Yusuke Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 10946764
    Abstract: A controller is applied to a vehicle including an engine (11) and a motor generator (12 and 13) as power sources of the vehicle and a battery (20) that transfers power with the motor generator. The controller charges the battery with a regeneration power that is a power regenerated by the motor generator when the vehicle is decelerated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Youhei Morimoto, Yutaro Ito, Noriaki Ikemoto, Masuhiro Kondo, Takahiro Narita
  • Patent number: 10948543
    Abstract: A system for determining a discharge power limit value of a battery cell is provided. A microprocessor calculates an adjusted maximum allowed voltage drop value based on a maximum allowed voltage drop value, and an estimated delta OCV value at N seconds after a first time. The estimated delta OCV value is calculated based on a first discharge current level. The microprocessor calculates a second discharge current level through the battery cell for N seconds to obtain the adjusted maximum allowed voltage drop value. The microprocessor calculates a discharge power limit value based on the second discharge current level that indicates an amount of power from the battery cell for N seconds without the voltage across the battery cell falling below a minimum allowed voltage of the battery cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventor: Robert Dale Busser
  • Patent number: 10949843
    Abstract: Methods and systems for conjugated authentication and authorization are provided, where two entities are associated through the use of respective conjugated credentials. The credentials of the user and a respective vehicle are both generated in a method that cryptographically binds the two entities and their respective pieces of data together so that the binding of the two entities can be easily verified by a third party without the use of external databases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Inventors: Hussein Talaat Mouftah, Binod Vaidya, Carlisle Adams
  • Patent number: 10948070
    Abstract: An electric drive for a transmission having a housing, a pump drive, and a primary sump configured to hold oil and operatively connected to a vehicle engine. The electric drive includes an oil-cooled electric generator electrically connected to an oil-cooled electric motor by an inverter. The electric generator includes a generator oil output operatively connected to and configured to deliver a flow of oil to a secondary sump located in the housing. The electric motor includes a motor oil output operatively connected to and configured to deliver a flow to the secondary sump. The secondary sump is separate from the primary sump, wherein the oil from the secondary sump is pumped back into the lubrication circuit of the transmission. The secondary sump includes a feature to allow overflow to drain to the primary sump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Marcus L. Kuhl, Clayton P. Neumann, Matthew B. Winhold
  • Patent number: 10946751
    Abstract: A power supply device for a vehicle includes first and second power supply systems, a switch, and first, second, and third mode controllers. The first power supply system includes: a first power supply including a first power storage and a first generator, and an electrical apparatus. The second power supply system includes a second power supply. When an SOC of the first power storage exceeds a lower limit, the first mode controller supplies electric power from the first power supply to the electrical apparatus. When the SOC decreases below the lower limit, the second mode controller supplies electric power from the second power supply to the electrical apparatus via the switch. When an abnormality is detected to have occurred in the switch during the second power supply mode, the third mode controller supplies the electric power from the first power supply to the electrical apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takahiro Uchimura, Yuji Ohori, Yuki Natsume, Shota Inudo
  • Patent number: 10940849
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a real-time optimization control method for an electro-mechanical transmission system, and relates to the field of electro-mechanical transmission technologies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignees: BEIJING INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, BAOTOU SANSI TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Weida Wang, Changle Xiang, Lijin Han, Hui Liu, Donghao Zhang, Chao Yang, Shaoping Lv