Power electronics interconnection for electric motor drives
Granted: February 9, 2016
Patent Number:
9257825
The bus bar includes a first bus bar layer formed of a first generally uniform thickness of a first bus bar conductor; a first dielectric layer overlying a top surface of the first bus bar layer; and a second bus bar layer formed of a second generally uniform thickness of a second bus bar conductor overlying a top surface of the first dielectric layer and the top surface of the first bus bar layer wherein: the first bus bar layer includes a first via for receipt of a first electrical…
Response to over-current in a battery pack
Granted: February 9, 2016
Patent Number:
9257729
A controller identifies a condition of a hazardous internal short by comparing patterns of series element voltages to the last known balance condition of the series elements. If the loaded or resting voltage of one or more contiguous series elements uniformly drop from the previously known condition by an amount consistent with an over-current condition, an over-current internal short circuit fault is registered. The desired response is to prevent the affected series elements from…
Battery cap assembly with high efficiency vent
Granted: February 2, 2016
Patent Number:
9252400
A battery cell design is disclosed that provides a predictable pathway through a portion of the cell (e.g., the cell cap assembly) for the efficient release of the thermal energy that occurs during thermal runaway, thereby reducing the chances of a rupture in an undesirable location. Furthermore the disclosed design maintains the functionality of the cell cap as the positive terminal of the cell, thereby having minimal impact on the manufacturability of the cell as well as its use in a…
Active louver system for controlled airflow in a multi-function automotive radiator and condenser system
Granted: February 2, 2016
Patent Number:
9250020
A vehicle thermal management system is provided that includes two or more heat exchangers configured in a non-stacked arrangement, where separate air inlets corresponding to each of the heat exchangers allow a direct intake of ambient air. Active louver systems consisting of sets of adjustable louvers and a control actuator are used to control and regulate air flowing directly into one or more of the heat exchangers, where the adjustable louvers are either adjustable between two…
Charging efficiency using variable isolation
Granted: December 29, 2015
Patent Number:
9225197
A method for charging an energy storage system (ESS) from an AC line voltage having differing input voltages (e.g., 120 Vac or 240 Vac), the method includes a) determining which of the AC line voltages is provided for charging the ESS as a charging AC voltage; b) boosting the charging AC voltage to an intermediate voltage responsive to the provided AC line voltage; c) scaling, responsive to the particular one of the AC line voltages, the intermediate voltage to a secondary voltage using…
Pyrotechnic high voltage battery disconnect
Granted: December 29, 2015
Patent Number:
9221343
A system for decoupling a HV source from an electric vehicle's electrical system is provided that includes (i) at least one electrical contactor, where the HV source is electrically connected to the vehicle's electrical system when the electrical contactor is in a closed state and not electrically connected to the vehicle's electrical system when the electrical contactor is in an open state; (ii) a supplemental restraint system (SRS) that monitors collision data from a plurality of…
Charge rate modulation of metal-air cells as a function of ambient oxygen concentration
Granted: December 8, 2015
Patent Number:
9209631
A method for charging a metal-air battery pack at the maximum possible rate while maintaining an ambient oxygen concentration below a preset concentration is provided, thereby minimizing the risks associated with generating oxygen during the charging cycle.
Charge rate optimization
Granted: November 24, 2015
Patent Number:
9197091
An electric charging system for a battery pack of an electric vehicle, including a charging station electrically coupled to the battery pack, the charging station transferring charging energy to the battery pack at a maximum fast charge rate in a first operational mode and transferring charging energy to the battery pack at a slower charge rate in a second operational mode; a data collection system acquiring a set of data indicating a state of charge (SOC) of the battery pack and one or…
Localized energy dissipation structures for vehicles
Granted: November 17, 2015
Patent Number:
9187131
An impact protection structure for a vehicle impacting a blunt-object barrier includes a support structure of the vehicle, an energy absorbing rail coupled to the support structure, and a localized energy dissipation structure. The energy absorbing rail extends an energy absorbing rail length and includes a plurality of lumens. The localized energy dissipation structure extends a localized energy dissipation structure length less than the energy absorbing rail length.
Wire break detection in redundant communications
Granted: November 10, 2015
Patent Number:
9182438
A system and method for low-cost, fault tolerant, EMI robust data communications, particularly for an EV environment.
Control system for an all-wheel drive electric vehicle
Granted: October 20, 2015
Patent Number:
9162586
Electric vehicles and, more particularly, a control system for an all-wheel drive electric vehicle. An electric vehicle drive system comprises: first and second electric motors; a torque split unit configured to receive first input that includes at least a total torque request for the first and second electric motors, and respective first and second maximum torques for the first and second electric motors, the torque split unit configured to process the first input without taking into…
Steady state detection of an exceptional charge event in a series connected battery element
Granted: October 6, 2015
Patent Number:
9153990
A system and method for identifying and responding to exceptional charge events of series-connected energy storage elements. An exceptional charge event detector for an energy storage system having a plurality of series-connected battery elements, comprising: a data acquisition system determining, for each battery element of the plurality of series-connected battery elements, a series of charge dependent parameters during an operational period of the energy storage system; a controller,…
Controller apparatus and sensors for a vehicle door handle
Granted: October 6, 2015
Patent Number:
9151089
In a vehicle door assembly, controllers processes signals from an extension force sensor and a retraction force sensor to control a door handle. As a motor retracts the handle, a swing arm in the vehicle door presses against the retraction force sensor causing the handle controller to stop the motor. Pushing on the retracted handle presses the swing arm against the retraction force sensor a second time causing the controllers to operate the motor and extend the handle. As the handle…
Door handle apparatus for vehicles
Granted: August 11, 2015
Patent Number:
9103143
A door handle assembly extends a door handle in parallel from an outer surface of a vehicle door and retracts the door handle until it is flush with the outer surface. The door handle assembly includes a door handle formed from a planar handle member and a handle base member. The planar handle member is coupled to the handle base member and a swing arm coupled to the backside of the handle base member extends and retracts the door handle. A first upper fork is rotably coupled to a…
Electric-vehicle connector post
Granted: August 4, 2015
Patent Number:
D735660
Active thermal runaway mitigation system for use within a battery pack
Granted: July 28, 2015
Patent Number:
9093726
An active thermal runaway mitigation system is provided that mitigates the effects of a single cell undergoing thermal runaway, thereby preventing the propagation of the thermal runaway event to neighboring cells within the battery pack. The provided system includes at least one, fluid-containing conduit in proximity to the cells within the battery pack. The conduit includes a plurality of breach points in proximity to the subset of cells, where each breach point is configured to form a…
Battery pack pressure monitoring system for thermal event detection
Granted: July 14, 2015
Patent Number:
9083064
A system for detecting thermal events, e.g., thermal runaway, within a sealed battery pack based on a characterization of monitored pressure variations within the pack is provided. The system includes at least one pressure sensor coupled to the battery pack and to a pressure monitoring system that outputs pressure data representative of the battery pack pressure over time; a system controller that analyzes the pressure data and outputs a control signal when the pressure data fits a…
Controller apparatus and sensors for a vehicle door handle
Granted: July 14, 2015
Patent Number:
9080352
A door handle assembly for a vehicle door includes a door handle operated using a controller and sensors. In the door interior, an upper portion of a swing arm connects to a first post and a second post portion of the door handle. The lower portion of the swing arm, rotably attached to a shaft on the inner door, pivots between an extended and retracted position. When an extension force sensor contacts the upper portion of the arm, the extension force sensor on the inner door surface…
Morphing vehicle user interface
Granted: July 14, 2015
Patent Number:
9079498
A method for operating a vehicle user interface is provided, the user interface utilizing a touch-screen display mounted within the vehicle. In one aspect, the visual or visual/interactive properties of the interface change after the user initiates interface interaction. In another aspect, the interface allows a user to utilize any of a variety of different control interaction techniques, all to achieve the same function.
Battery mounting and cooling system
Granted: June 23, 2015
Patent Number:
9065103
A battery system is provided in which the batteries are mounted between a pair of substrates, the system further including at least one cooling tube mounted next to the batteries, the cooling tube used to withdraw heat from the batteries via a circulating liquid coolant.
