Electric Vehicle Patents (Class 701/22)
  • Patent number: 11171349
    Abstract: A fuel cell vehicle comprises a fuel cell, a power storage device, a drive motor, a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of the fuel cell, a detector configured to detect an operation condition of the fuel cell, and a controller. At a start time of the fuel cell, in a case where the temperature of the fuel cell detected by the temperature sensor is below a freezing point, when an output condition of the fuel cell shown by the detected operation condition of the fuel cell continuously corresponds to a predetermined low output condition for a predetermined reference time period or longer, the controller sets a driving state of the fuel cell vehicle to a first driving state that stops power generation of the fuel cell, drives the drive motor by using only the power storage device as a power source and limits a motor output of the drive motor to be equal to or lower than a predetermined first upper limit output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomohiro Ogawa, Tomotaka Ishikawa, Shinji Asou, Tomio Yamanaka, Junichi Matsuo, Ryosuke Oya
  • Patent number: 11167643
    Abstract: Presented are intelligent vehicles and control logic for provisioning comprehensive tow features, methods for manufacturing/operating such vehicles, and electric-drive vehicles with tow features for protecting the vehicle's powertrain and electrical components during towing. A method for controlling operation of an electric-drive vehicle includes a vehicle controller verifying initiation of a towing operation for the vehicle, and responsively determining if there is a drive system failure preventing the vehicle's traction motor from electrically connecting with its traction battery pack. If there is no drive system failure, the controller determines if the speed of the traction motor during towing exceeds a calibrated base speed; if so, the controller commands a power inverter to electrically connect the traction motor to the traction battery pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Dongxu Li, Lei Hao
  • Patent number: 11167749
    Abstract: A hybrid electric powertrain for a vehicle includes an engine, electric machine, torque converter having a pump, turbine, and torque converter clutch (“TCC”) configured, when applied, to lock the pump to the turbine, a one-way engine disconnect clutch connected to the turbine, a transmission, and a controller. A transmission input shaft directly couples to the electric machine, and is selectively coupled to the engine via the disconnect clutch. An output shaft is connectable to road wheels of the vehicle. The controller, in response to an engine-off request, determines turbine and pump speeds of the turbine and pump, respectively, registers that the engine is in an engine-off state when the pump speed is less than the turbine speed, and executes an electric vehicle (“EV”) mode shift using machine torque from the electric machine when the pump speed is zero during the engine-off state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Chunhao J. Lee, Neeraj S. Shidore, Norman K. Bucknor, Dongxu Li, Farzad Samie
  • Patent number: 11167818
    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 changes a motor control state from a third control state to a fourth control state when the first ratio is changed by the transmission or a signal is received for changing the first ratio. The controller changes the motor control state from the fourth control state to a fifth control state in accordance with a value related to at least one of a speed of the human-powered vehicle, the human drive force, an inclination angle of the human-powered vehicle, and a state of a rider of the human-powered vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Satoshi Shahana
  • Patent number: 11161418
    Abstract: A control device of an electric vehicle includes: a target rotation speed calculation unit that calculates a target rotation speed of a drive wheel based on a vehicle body speed; and a slip control unit that detects a slip of the drive wheel when a wheel speed exceeds the target rotation speed of the drive wheel and that controls motor torque of the motor in such a manner that the wheel speed becomes an appropriate rotation speed in detection of the slip. Further, the slip control unit controls the motor torque by feedback control according to a difference between the rotation speed of the motor and the target rotation speed of the drive wheel in detection of the slip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naruto Yamane, Kazuya Okumura, Hideki Kubonoya, Fumiki Tanahashi
  • Patent number: 11161515
    Abstract: An anti-jerk control method for an electric vehicle incorporates an anti-jerk function that can be performed more accurately and effectively by utilizing a real-time weight change of an electric vehicle. The anti-jerk control method includes: estimating vehicle weight by a controller based on vehicle driving information collected from a vehicle; determining a required torque command of a driver by the controller based on the vehicle driving information collected from the vehicle; determining anti-jerk torque according to the vehicle weight based on calculated speed deviation and the estimated vehicle weight information; and controlling a drive motor according to a compensated motor torque command by compensating the required torque command with the anti-jerk torque in the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Tae Jun Kang
  • Patent number: 11164435
    Abstract: In implementations described herein, /V recording and communication doorbell devices (“A/V doorbells”) may include supercapacitors to supply power to functional components of the A/V doorbells. For example, the A/V doorbells described herein may include one or more supercapacitors to supply power to one or more functional components in situations where doorbell power circuitry is unable to supply sufficient power for the one or more functional components to operate. The A/V doorbells described herein may also include a power control system and supercapacitor control circuitry to regulate the charging and discharging of the one or more supercapacitors. In various implementations, the supercapacitor control circuitry may control the amount of current supplied from the one or more supercapacitors to one or more functional components of the A/V doorbells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: James Steven Skeoch
  • Patent number: 11161487
    Abstract: A system for controlling wheel brakes in a first vehicle platooning with a second vehicle includes a transceiver in the first vehicle that receives a brake command from the second vehicle to apply a wheel brake in the first vehicle. A controller in the first vehicle generates, responsive to the brake command, a first set of control signals that control delivery of fluid pressure to the wheel brake and implement a braking event. The controller may further detect a wheel slip condition indicative of slip in a wheel of the first vehicle during the braking event and generate, when the condition occurs, a second set of control signals to control delivery of fluid pressure to the wheel brake. The control signals are generated in accordance with braking profiles that differ from braking profiles used by the controller during braking events occurring in the absence of the brake command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC
    Inventors: Thomas S. Miller, Jr., Phillip J. Kasper
  • Patent number: 11161497
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method of controlling a mode transition in order to predict a driver's required torque to reduce non-driving fuel loss, and a hybrid vehicle for performing the method in particular, the method of controlling a mode transition of a hybrid vehicle may include: determining whether to change a first mode to a second mode based on a first torque; determining a second torque expected to be generated at a near-future time after a current time; determining whether or not an engine clutch engagement is possible at the near-future time based on the second torque or a predicted acceleration; and performing the change from the first mode to the second mode when the mode change from the first mode to the second mode is determined and the engine clutch engagement is possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jea Mun Lee, Joon Young Park, Ji Hoon Kang
  • Patent number: 11162434
    Abstract: Provided is a throttle device including a total of two throttle units in each two cylinders in an engine 1, each of the throttle units having a unit body having intake air passages corresponding to four cylinders of the engine, a throttle shaft rotatably supported by the unit body, throttle valves secured to the throttle shaft to open and close the intake air passages for the cylinders, a motor, and a deceleration mechanism decelerating rotation of a drive shaft of the motor and transmitting the decelerated rotation to the throttle shaft, in which a deceleration ratio of the deceleration mechanism provided in a first throttle unit and a deceleration ratio of the deceleration mechanism provided in a second throttle unit out of the two throttle units are different from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: MIKUNI COPORATION
    Inventor: Isamu Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11164241
    Abstract: An autonomous road vehicle is operative to receive ride source requests, product delivery requests, and ancillary product purchase and fulfillment requests. A product securing subsystem is attached to the autonomous road vehicle and comprises at least one securable compartment. Each securable compartment is operative to secure at least one product therein. Each securable compartment is associated with compartment access information. An access subsystem comprising at least one access information interface. The access subsystem is operative, upon receipt through the access information interface of compartment access information, to permit access to the compartment in order to enable product purchase and fulfillment requests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jeremy A. Greenberger, James R. Kozloski, Clifford A. Pickover
  • Patent number: 11161514
    Abstract: Methods and system are described for controlling wheel slip of a four wheel drive vehicle. The methods and system may be applied to an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle. The method and system provide for operating vehicle propulsion sources in speed and torque control modes to manage wheel slip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jose Velazquez Alcantar, Joe Jay Torres, Lucian Lippok
  • Patent number: 11158021
    Abstract: A system and method for intelligent blockchain ride sharing distribution of autonomous electric vehicles. The electric vehicles accommodate commercial transport, public transport, and personal transport. The system and method includes a ride service network of autonomous, electric vehicles that are intelligently distributed through blockchain-regulated vehicle distribution means. The vehicle distribution means includes: on-demand, through reservations, and through traffic detection. A secure chain of data blocks from a blockchain represents the individual vehicle distribution transactions. The blockchain verifies that distribution of vehicles is efficient and accurate. The electric vehicles are defined by octagonal body frame powered by induction charging and/or solar energy charging of a battery for powering hub motors integrated into wheels at the outer corners of the body frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Alpha Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Edward Lee
  • Patent number: 11158893
    Abstract: A battery heating device includes: a capacitor connected in parallel between a battery and a load; a reactor connected to the capacitor; a first switch connected to a terminal on the load side of the reactor, and to one terminal of the capacitor; a second switch connected to a terminal on the load side of the reactor, and to another terminal of the capacitor; a controller configured to control an ON/OFF state of the first switch and the second switch; and a current sensor configured to detect a direction and a current value of a reactor current flowing in the reactor. The controller performs battery heating mode control including a first control of turning OFF the first switch and turning ON the second switch when a current value becomes substantially zero from a state where the reactor current flows from the load side to the battery side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Naoyoshi Takamatsu
  • Patent number: 11155182
    Abstract: A motor controller is described that is coupled to a drive motor and a battery pack of a vehicle. The motor controller is configured to determine a maximum discharge current of the battery pack and a rotational velocity of the drive motor. Based on the determined rotational velocity of the drive motor, the motor controller is configured to identify a curve that defines a relationship between the maximum discharge current of the battery pack and a drive current limit of the motor controller. Based on the identified curve and the determined maximum discharge current of the battery pack, the motor controller is configured to determine the drive current limit of the motor controller. The motor controller is further configured to convert a discharge current from the battery pack to a drive current subject to the determined drive current limit and supply the drive current to the drive motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: TOMCAR HOLDING COMPANY LLC
    Inventors: Moshe Miller, Jonathan Drori
  • Patent number: 11157015
    Abstract: A method of navigating an autonomous coverage robot on a floor includes controlling movement of the robot across the floor in a cleaning mode. A sensor signal indicative of an obstacle is received. The robot is rotated away from the sensed obstacle. A change in the received sensor signal during at least a portion of the rotation of the robot away from the sensed obstacle is determined. The sensed obstacle is identified based at least in part on the determined change in the received sensor signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventor: Mark Steven Schnittman
  • Patent number: 11159028
    Abstract: A battery control circuit controls a balance of cell voltage values of cells coupled in series, and includes connection terminals respectively coupling to a positive electrode of a corresponding cell, a ground terminal coupled to an internal ground of the battery control circuit and coupling to a negative electrode of a cell located at a lowest stage of the cells, a control circuit to select, from the connection terminals, at least one connection terminal coupled to the internal ground via an internal current path of the battery control circuit, and a current generation circuit to supply a terminal current whose current value varies according to the cell voltage value of the cell whose positive electrode is coupled to the at least one of the connection terminals selected by the control circuit, from the at least one of the connection terminals to the internal ground via the internal current path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: MITSUMI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kohei Shibata
  • Patent number: 11156994
    Abstract: An automated guided vehicle control system includes an automated guided vehicle (AGV) transporting parts by moving along a guide line designed on a floor of a factory; and a server displaying a guide line map of the factory on a screen through an AGV path setting UI, setting a transport path of the AGV depending on selection of a node which is present in the guide line and AGV motion information considering a link direction between neighboring nodes included in the transport path and transmitting the set transport path and motion information to the AGV through a wireless relay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kyung Dong Park, Young Jin Jung, Sang Won Yoon
  • Patent number: 11149409
    Abstract: A main controller and a hybrid controller control an engine, an assist generator motor, a hydraulic pump and an electricity storage device. In this case, the hybrid controller is provided with a performance state recovery part that performs performance state recovery of the electricity storage device. In a case where a performance state amount varying with repetition of a discharge and a charge of the electricity storage device, specifically, a current integrated value ratio of the electricity storage device goes beyond a predetermined threshold value (L1%), the performance state recovery part limits power of the hydraulic pump. Thereby, the performance state recovery part performs the performance state recovery of the electricity storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Itaru Naya, Shinya Imura, Masafumi Hita, Seiji Ishida, Ken Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 11146078
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for balancing a battery pack (5) comprising a plurality of battery cells (5a, 5b, 5c) for an electric vehicle. The method comprises: determining the state of charge (SOC) for each of said battery cells (5a, 5b, 5c); receiving information related to the expected use of the electric vehicle to a prediction horizon; and determining a state of balance value (SOBc) at the current time and an expected state of balance value (SOBp) at the end of the prediction horizon. Furthermore, the method comprises balancing the battery cells (5a, 5b, 5c) based on the state of balance value (SOBc) at the current time and the expected state of balance value (SOBp) at the end of said prediction horizon, such that the state of balance (SOB) and the use of the cell balancing process is optimized so as to minimize the energy usage of the battery pack (5). The invention also relates to an arrangement for balancing a battery pack (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventor: Esteban Gelso
  • Patent number: 11142089
    Abstract: A method for determining a minimum state of charge for an energy storage means of a vehicle can include: determining a routine of use of charge of the energy storage means; determining a user requirement for future driving of the vehicle; predicting a reduction in the state of charge of the energy storage means associated with the user requirement in dependence on the determined routine; determining a minimum state of charge for the energy storage means for enabling the user requirement to be satisfied in dependence on the predicted reduction; and providing an output to the user indicative of a time requirement for increasing the state of charge of the energy storage means to a value at or above the minimum state of charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited
    Inventors: Lech Andrzej Birek, James Aggiss, Krzysztof Kobylinski, Prasun Chokshi
  • Patent number: 11142202
    Abstract: A control system for a hybrid vehicle configured to reduce an exhaust gas during deceleration of the vehicle, and to protect a motor and a battery. A control mode of the engine may be selected from: a low-power mode in which the hybrid vehicle is decelerated by reducing a torque and a power of the engine at a predetermined rate while generating the brake torque by the motor; and a high-power mode in which the hybrid vehicle is decelerated by reducing the torque and the power of the engine at a rate slower than the predetermined rate of the low-power mode while generating the brake torque by the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Satoshi Tsuda
  • Patent number: 11143125
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for operating an internal combustion engine at a firing fraction that is less than a value of 1.0, wherein one or more cylinders of the internal combustion engine are not designated to be fired, determining a smoothing event time period where a particular one of the cylinders that have not been designated to be fired is either skipped or recharged, selecting a periodic disruptive waveform to approximate that is related to a skip or recharge event that is part of the smoothing event time period, determining a first harmonic sinusoid from a group of harmonic sinusoids that reduces the error between an approximated waveform and the disruptive waveform, determining a timeframe for utilizing the first harmonic, and actuating an additional motor to initiate a supplemental quantity of torque during the smoothing event time period based on the disruption quantity of torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Tula Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Louis Joseph Serrano, Vijay Srinivasan
  • Patent number: 11145931
    Abstract: A battery comprises a plurality of battery modules. A method determines a load-state of the battery and selects a set of the battery modules to configure, to produce a load-state capacity of the battery based on the load-state. A load-state capacity of the battery can be a sub-capacity of the battery less than a rated capacity of the battery and the method can configure the set of battery modules to produce the sub-capacity based on the load-state comprising the battery disconnected from a load. A battery system can comprise a battery having a plurality of battery modules and a controller configured to perform the method. A battery system can comprise a battery having a plurality of battery modules, and an actuator and a module retainer that can position a battery module in or out of contact with a module interconnect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Noah Singer, Steven J. Ahladas, Marc H. Coq, Richard J. Fishbune, Mark Maresh, Eric B. Swenson
  • Patent number: 11142086
    Abstract: A non-contact power supply device 1 supplying power in a non-contacting manner to a battery 51 provided in an electric vehicle 5, includes a guide 20 that defines a stopping position of the electric vehicle 5 when the electric vehicle 5 is supplied with power in the non-contacting manner; and a power transmitter 10 that includes a power transmission coil Lt and a housing 110 accommodating the power transmission coil Lt and that transmits power to the electric vehicle 5 stopped at the stopping position from the power transmission coil Lt, wherein the guide 20 includes two guide parts 21, 21 disposed apart from each other in a width direction of the electric vehicle 5 with a space greater than a width of the electric vehicle 5, and a vehicle stopper 22 that is disposed at a far side in a moving direction of the electric vehicle 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: DAIHEN Corporation
    Inventor: Ryouhei Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11145141
    Abstract: Electric vehicle predictive range estimating systems and methods are provided herein. An example method includes determining an initial state of charge (SOC) for an energy source of a vehicle at a first point in time; determining one or more boundary conditions for the vehicle during a time frame extending from the first point in time to a second point in time, the one or more boundary conditions causing a loss in the energy source during the time frame; determining a predicted future SOC for the energy source based on the one or more boundary conditions and the initial SOC; and predicting an availability of a vehicle operating condition based on the predicted future SOC for the energy source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brendan Diamond, Erik Christen, Kevin James Rhodes
  • Patent number: 11142184
    Abstract: A method for operating a hybrid drive apparatus for a motor vehicle, having an exhaust-gas-producing internal combustion engine and an electric motor. The internal combustion engine and the electric motor, respectively alone or at least sometimes jointly, provide a drive torque, wherein, when a start threshold value is exceeded by a demand variable. The internal combustion engine is started and the drive torque is at least partially generated by the internal combustion engine, and, when a stop threshold value is not met by the demand variable, the internal combustion engine is stopped and the drive torque is generated solely by means of the electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Boris Blasinski, Florian Zink, René Schimmel
  • Patent number: 11138545
    Abstract: A delivery system and method for delivering packages to multiple recipients uses a mobile robot having a delivery package space suitable for accommodating at least two packages, at least one package sensor configured to output first data reflective of the presence or absence of packages within with package space, at least one processing component configured to receive and process the package sensor's first data and at least one communication component configured to at least send and receive second data. The mobile robot travels to a first delivery location, permits a first recipient to access the package space, and identifies the first recipient's package to the first recipient. The system and method use data from the package sensor to verify that the first recipient removed only his or her package, if other package(s) are also present. The mobile robot then travels to a second delivery location associated with a second recipient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Starship Technologies OÜ
    Inventor: Ahti Heinla
  • Patent number: 11136928
    Abstract: A variety of methods and arrangements for reducing noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) in a skip fire engine control system are described. In one aspect, a firing sequence is used to operate the engine in a skip fire manner. A smoothing torque is determined that is applied to a powertrain by an energy storage/release device. The smoothing torque is arranged to at least partially cancel out variation in torque generated by the skip fire firing sequence. Various methods, powertrain controllers, arrangements and computer software related to the above operations are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Tula Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Louis J. Serrano, Xin Yuan, John W. Parsels, Mohammad R. Pirjaberi, Mark A. Wilcutts, Masaki Nagashima
  • Patent number: 11131554
    Abstract: Technologies are disclosed that are used to control the transmission and processing of vehicle telemetry data. Routing data configured to be used to navigate the vehicle is accessed. Using the routing data, telemetry broadcast parameters are generated. The telemetry broadcast parameters are transmitted to the vehicle. Transmissions of telemetry data in accordance with the broadcast parameters are received from the vehicle. The received telemetry data is used in generating a simulated environment for a route planning learning engine, in simulating a vehicle, in validating routes and maps, and/or in performing vehicle diagnostics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Beijing Voyager Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tingbo Hou, Guomin Xiang
  • Patent number: 11130409
    Abstract: A performance learning system and method is provided for a utility vehicle. The performance learning system includes a propulsion system, a plurality of sensors disposed on the vehicle and capable of acquiring operational data associated with the vehicle, a processor, and a memory configured to store historical operational data. The processor can be configured to receive the operational data from the sensors, generate and transmit a command to control the propulsion system based on the operational data and the historical operational data, and update the historical operational data based on the operational data. The operational data may include characteristics associated with one or more of an operator of the vehicle or an operating environment of the vehicle. The systems and methods may optimize the performance of the utility vehicle for particular environments and conditions in which the utility vehicle is being operated and increase operator satisfaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Hydro-Gear Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Nathan W. Bonny, Alyn G. Brown
  • Patent number: 11130484
    Abstract: A control device for a hybrid vehicle calculates a required drive force based on an accelerator position. The control device also calculates a required torque of the engine based on the required drive force. The control device further calculates a target torque for the engine by subjecting the required torque to a gradual change process for lessening a change in a value and performs an engine control such that an engine torque becomes equal to the target torque. The control device also performs a torque control on the motor such that a drive force of the hybrid vehicle becomes equal to the required drive force in a state in which the engine torque is equal to the target torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shota Miyake
  • Patent number: 11133688
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to charge electric vehicles are disclosed. An example method includes receiving, at a processor, a request for a mobile charging unit to meet an electric vehicle to provide a battery charge to the electric vehicle. The request is generated by the electric vehicle when a ratio of a remaining trip distance of the electric vehicle to a remaining expected range of the electric vehicle exceeds a threshold. The example method further includes identifying, via the processor, a location for the battery charge based on input from a user of the electric vehicle regarding a plurality of possible locations for the battery charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Mark Schaffer, Kenneth James Miller
  • Patent number: 11131715
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of controlling a vehicle battery management system comprising a battery arranged in a vehicle, the battery being controlled by a battery control unit comprising a battery model describing a relation between a battery state and a time varying battery property. The method comprises, in the battery control unit: measuring at least one time varying battery sensor output of the battery; determining a battery state based on the measured battery sensor output; updating the battery model based on the determined battery state, thereby forming an updated battery model, receiving a second battery model; and combining the received second model with the existing battery model. The invention also relates to a battery management system and to a vehicle comprising such a battery management system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jonas Hellgren
  • Patent number: 11130388
    Abstract: A transmission system selectively coupled to an engine crankshaft of an internal combustion engine arranged on a vehicle includes a transmission, a motor generator an HVAC compressor and a controller. The transmission has an input shaft, a mainshaft, an output shaft and a countershaft offset from the input shaft. The countershaft is drivably connected to the first input shaft and a mainshaft. The motor generator is selectively couple to the countershaft. The HVAC compressor is selectively driven by the motor generator. The controller operates the transmission system in various modes based on operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventor: Thomas J. Stoltz
  • Patent number: 11125573
    Abstract: A pickup system for picking up a product using a vehicle having an autonomous travelling function includes a communication unit configured to accept a pickup request from a user, a travel control unit configured to cause the vehicle to autonomously travel to a user position specified in the pickup request accepted through the communication unit, and an informing unit configured to inform the user that, when the vehicle arrives at the user position, the arrived vehicle is a vehicle that is to pick up a product in response to the pickup request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomohito Matsuoka, Seiichi Tsunoda, Jiro Goto, Masayuki Yamada, Yasutaka Eto, Keima Fukunaga
  • Patent number: 11127056
    Abstract: A system and method for determining at least one demand response overhead percentage that include receiving at least one demand response signal. The system and method also include analyzing event data to determine at least one event. The system and method additionally include determining the at least one demand response overhead percentage based on the event data. The system and method further include communicating the demand response overhead percentage to at least one electric vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Maira A. Malik, Robert M. Uyeki, Scott Bergonzi
  • Patent number: 11124079
    Abstract: A method for autonomous alignment of a vehicle and a stationary wireless charging device, including scanning of the vehicle surrounding for a stationary wireless charging device and in case a wireless charging device is detected, determining the vehicle position, comparison of the actual vehicle position and a catalogue of vehicle positions, d) based on the outcome of the comparison, in case that the actual vehicle position is already in the catalogue of vehicle positions, selection of a trained alignment trajectory from the catalogue, or in case that the actual vehicle position is not in the catalogue of known vehicle positions, planning of a new alignment trajectory in order to align the vehicle and the detected stationary wireless charging device, and tracking of the vehicle position and autonomous alignment of the vehicle and the detected stationary wireless charging device based on the alignment trajectory obtained in the previous step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventors: Mirian Rodriguez Romero, Ovidiu Buzdugan Romcea
  • Patent number: 11117566
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a hybrid electric vehicle. In one example, a method may include delaying an electric-only operation of the hybrid vehicle in response to a powertrain temperature being less than a threshold powertrain temperature and an electric-only range being less than a distance between a current location and a recharging location. The electric-only operation may be initiated in response to one or more of the powertrain temperature exceeding the threshold powertrain temperature and the electric-only range being equal to the distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Thomas Leone
  • Patent number: 11118519
    Abstract: A method of controlling a hybrid electric vehicle is provided. The method includes determining whether a condition for turning off an engine is satisfied and determining engine clutch disengaging time and residual purge gas consuming time from engine driving status information when the condition is satisfied. Engine clutch-engaged charging control time is determined from the engine clutch disengaging time and the residual purge gas consuming time. The method includes closing a purge control solenoid valve and starting to perform engine clutch-engaged charging control. The engine clutch-engaged charging control is maintained for the determined engine clutch-engaged charging control time and then engine clutch disengaging control is performed for the determined engine clutch disengaging time. The engine is stopped after the engine clutch disengaging control is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Seung Han Lee, Il Kwon Park, Dae Heung Lee, In Eok Cho, Jeong Ho Seo
  • Patent number: 11121392
    Abstract: A thin-film electrochemical device includes a monolithic substrate, which includes a cavity enclosed by bottom and side surfaces of the substrate, and a thin-film arranged on a top surface of the substrate and enclosing the cavity. The thin-film is permeable to ions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: KING ABDULLAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Adrián César Cavazos Sepulveda, Galo Andrés Torres Sevilla
  • Patent number: 11118919
    Abstract: A method for determining a route and time frame for the travel of a motor vehicle which assists the driver in planning their travel and in making fuller use of the technical potential of the motor vehicle is provided. For this purpose, the method includes the following steps: acquiring at least one destination, determining a travel route to the at least one destination; acquiring an adjustable travel mode of the motor vehicle for at least one first section of the travel route; determining the route and time frame for the travel of the motor vehicle depending on the acquired travel mode; and displaying the route and time frame of the travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Daniel Grein, Julia Niemann, Julian Eichhorn, Marc Breisinger, Philipp Suessenguth, Benjamin Kuhn
  • Patent number: 11117588
    Abstract: When controlling a driving source torque in order to accelerate a driving wheel, a driving source torque controller performs shock suppression control of controlling the driving source torque based on an acquired driving source torque so that at least one of (i) an absolute value of relative speed between power transmission members on a power transmission path decreases when backlash between the power transmission members decreases or (ii) a transmission torque which is transmitted between the power transmission members on the power transmission path decreases when the backlash between the power transmission members is eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuichiro Fukazawa, Naotsugu Kamiya, Masaki Shimazaki, Takahiro Ozawa, Seiya Uno, Takuya Okamoto, Mitsutoshi Koide, Yoshitsugu Kosugi
  • Patent number: 11117475
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable media can determine a trajectory for a vehicle, the trajectory associated with a predicted path to be traveled by the vehicle. A power optimization plan is generated for the vehicle based on the trajectory. One or more power management settings are modified based on the power optimization plan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Woven Planet North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Bence Cserna, Carlos Alberto De Magalhaes Massera Filho, Di Sun
  • Patent number: 11110872
    Abstract: A power control device for a power supply mounted on a vehicle is provided, which includes a generator mounted on the vehicle and configured to regenerate power from kinetic energy of the vehicle, a high-voltage battery configured to accumulate the power regenerated by the generator, a low-voltage battery of which a nominal voltage is lower than the high-voltage battery, a voltage converter configured to lower an output voltage from the high-voltage battery and charge the low-voltage battery at the lower voltage, and a controller configured to control the voltage converter. The controller operates the voltage converter to start the charging of the low-voltage battery after the vehicle is powered ON and before an engine mounted on the vehicle is started.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Kurihara, Yusuke Nakano, Hidemasa Tomiyori, Yukihiro Soeda, Akina Inagaki, Yuta Otsuka
  • Patent number: 11111867
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for reverse purging in a non-integrated refueling canister only system based on diurnal temperature variation. In one example, a method may include during a vehicle-off condition, in response to an estimated cooling of fuel in a fuel tank, unseal the fuel tank by pulsing a refueling valve (RV) to an open position. The cooling of the fuel may be estimated based on output of a first solar cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Aed Dudar
  • Patent number: 11104325
    Abstract: There is provided a hybrid-vehicle controller that can calculate MG demand torque with which fuel consumption in an engine can efficiently be decreased by increasing the MG's power-running torque. In the hybrid-vehicle controller, from a plurality of MG torque candidate values, there are selected the MG torque candidate values that make a 0 MG-torque-reference total supply power variation amount become the same as or smaller than a power-running-side variation amount upper limit value; then, there is selected, as a power-running-side final MG torque candidate value, the MG torque candidate value that makes an absolute value of the relative supply power variation amount ratio become maximum, among the selected MG torque candidate values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Tatsuhiko Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11108251
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a reconfigurable battery system and method of operating the same. The reconfigurable battery system comprising a plurality of switchable battery modules, a battery supervisory circuit, and a battery pack controller, where the plurality of switchable battery modules electrically arranged in series to define a battery string defining an output voltage. The battery pack controller operable to connect the battery string to the external bus via a pre-charge switch to perform a pre-charge cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Aurora Flight Sciences Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew Kirleis, John Merk, Theodor Hoffer-Schaefer
  • Patent number: 11104324
    Abstract: A method and system are provided for adapting a vehicle control strategy of an on-road vehicle following a reoccurring fixed route to a predetermined destination, which fixed route extends through at least one geographical zone associated with at least one environmental restriction. When it is determined that the vehicle is approaching the geographical zone, historical data collected from previous passages of one or several vehicles through the zone is accessed, and the vehicle control strategy inside the geographical zone is adapted based on the historical data and the environmental restriction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Edward Jobson, Ulf Gustafsson, Martin Sanne, Roger Andersson
  • Patent number: 11104235
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided a charging management system including a display controller configured to cause a display device to display a time slot which is settable as a new desired rental time slot of an electric vehicle, based on a charging time slot on an assumption that charging to the vehicle by a second charging device is performed, and a scheduling module configured to set the desired rental time slot as a time slot in which rental is possible, if the charging to the electric vehicle for enabling the rental is possible in the input desired rental time slot and the rental time slot in which the rental reservation has been made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Solutions Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Suzuki, Tsuyoshi Shimada, Norikazu Hosaka, Naoki Yamaguchi, Motohiro Takeuchi, Kenji Kojima