Electric vehicle battery lifetime optimization operational mode
Granted: December 9, 2014
Patent Number:
8907629
A multi-mode operating system for an electric vehicle is provided, the system including means for a user to select a preferred mode of operation from a plurality of operational modes that include at least a Battery Life mode and a Standard mode, wherein the Battery Life mode is configured to select operating and charging parameters that emphasize battery health and battery life over vehicle range and/or vehicle performance. The system includes a thermal management system for maintaining…
Battery module with integrated thermal management system
Granted: December 9, 2014
Patent Number:
8906541
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…
Low temperature fast charge
Granted: December 2, 2014
Patent Number:
8901885
An automated charge preparation method periodically determines critical parameters for the set of relevant operating conditions, determines whether fast charging is possible, applies fast charging when possible, otherwise applies a dynamically scaled charging rate that is optimized based upon current critical parameters (while optionally heating the individual battery cells as long as fast charging is not available) to reduce/eliminate a risk of lithium-plating.
Method of controlling system temperature to extend battery pack life
Granted: December 2, 2014
Patent Number:
8899492
A method for actively cooling the battery pack of an electric vehicle after the vehicle has been turned off, thereby limiting the adverse effects of temperature on battery life, is provided. Different battery pack cooling techniques are provided, thus allowing the cooling technique used in a particular instance to be selected not only based on the thermal needs of the battery pack, but also on the thermal capacity and energy requirements of the selected approach.
Vehicle user interface with proximity activation
Granted: November 18, 2014
Patent Number:
8892299
A method for using a vehicle user interface is provided, the user interface utilizing a touch screen display mounted within the vehicle. A proximity detection system provides a means for switching the touch screen display from the sleep mode to the normal use mode without the user having to touch the screen, thus expediting user interaction with the touch screen. The proximity detection system may be configured to distinguish the user's presence per touch screen zone, thereby allowing…
Extruded member with altered radial fins
Granted: November 18, 2014
Patent Number:
8887398
A method of extruding a component includes: creating a first design of a component, wherein in the first design the component comprises a member and is configured for an implementation; adding at least one radial fin to the member in the first design, the member and the radial fins being a second design of the component; extruding a piece that conforms to the second design and has at least one extruded radial fin; and altering the extruded radial fin on the extruded piece, the alteration…
Park lock for narrow transmission
Granted: November 11, 2014
Patent Number:
8881883
A park lock of a transmission, including a park gear; a park pawl rotating about a pawl shaft, the park pawl having a pawl portion locking the park gear, the park pawl including a cam contact portion; a park rod responsive to an operation of a controller, the park rod having a cam portion pressing the cam contact portion to have park pawl engage the park gear; a park sleeve receiving the cam portion and defining a first contact point providing a reactive force to the cam contact portion…
Vehicle battery pack thermal barrier
Granted: November 4, 2014
Patent Number:
8875828
An integration assembly for a battery pack mounted between the passenger cabin floor panel of an electric vehicle and the driving surface is provided, the assembly utilizing a multi-layer thermal barrier interposed between the battery pack enclosure and the passenger cabin floor panel, where the multi-layer thermal barrier provides noise isolation, thermal isolation and vibration damping, and where the multi-layer thermal barrier is compressed when the battery pack enclosure is mounted…
Methodology for charging batteries safely
Granted: October 21, 2014
Patent Number:
8866444
An apparatus and method for identifying a presence of a short circuit in a battery pack. A fault-detection apparatus for a charging system that rapidly charges a collection of interconnected lithium ion battery cells, the safety system includes a data-acquisition system for receiving a set of data parameters from the collection while the charging system is actively charging the collection; a monitoring system evaluating the set of data parameters to identify a set of anomalous…
Dynamic current protection in energy distribution systems
Granted: October 21, 2014
Patent Number:
8867180
An electric circuit, including an electric load operable from an operating current; an energy storage system providing the operating current at both a first mode and a second mode with the first mode having a first current in a first range of zero to a first particular current value and with the second mode having a second current in a second range of the first particular current value to a second particular current value; and an active protection coupled to the energy storage system,…
Robust communications in electrically noisy environments
Granted: October 14, 2014
Patent Number:
8861337
A system and method for low-cost, fault tolerant, EMI robust data communications, particularly for an EV environment.
Detection of high voltage electrolysis of coolant in a battery pack
Granted: October 14, 2014
Patent Number:
8862414
An apparatus and method providing for detecting and responding to high voltage electrolysis within an electric vehicle battery enclosure to limit possible excessive thermal condition of the battery cells and modules. The present invention includes embodiments directed towards detection algorithms and apparatus for promoting the use of voltage, current, humidity, temperature, and pressure sensors for the purpose of detecting high voltage electrolysis. Additionally, the present invention…
Integration system for a vehicle battery pack
Granted: September 16, 2014
Patent Number:
8833499
An improved integration system for a battery pack mounted between the passenger cabin floor panel of an electric vehicle and the driving surface is provided, the system utilizing at least one insulating layer interposed between the battery pack enclosure and the passenger cabin floor panel, where the insulating layer provides noise isolation, thermal isolation and vibration damping, and where the insulating layer is compressed when the battery pack enclosure is mounted to the vehicle.
Sealing mechanism of automobile door
Granted: September 16, 2014
Patent Number:
8832998
A sealing mechanism of an automobile door including a sliding window pane configured to be raised or lowered to/from the door window part and a side panel, includes: a retainer fixed to the side panel; and a glass run held by the retainer. The glass run includes a hollow seal part, and the base of the seal part has a slit. A pair of engagement parts of the retainer is engaged with both sides of the base of the seal part. A ridge located between the engagement parts of the retainer is…
Host communications architecture
Granted: August 26, 2014
Patent Number:
8819162
A system and method for low-cost, fault tolerant, EMI robust data communications, particularly for an EV environment.
Adaptive soft buttons for a vehicle user interface
Granted: August 26, 2014
Patent Number:
8818624
A system and a method are provided for configuring the touch-sensitive area and/or the tap duration associated with a plurality of touch-sensitive soft buttons of a vehicle user interface in response to varying vehicle conditions. In particular, as a monitored vehicle condition deteriorates, the system controller coupled to the vehicle user interface expands the touch-sensitive region and/or increases the tap duration of the touch-sensitive soft buttons, thereby improving the user's…
Redundant multistate signaling
Granted: August 26, 2014
Patent Number:
8817892
A data communications system having a plurality of communication devices including a host having a first receiver and a second receiver; and one or more clients, each client including a transmitter coupled between a signal node and a transmitter node, the transmitter selectively transmitting a multistate signal from the signal node to the transmitter node; and a single conductor daisy-chain loop redundantly communicating each multistate signal from each the transmitter to both receivers,…
Angled front hood sealing assembly
Granted: August 19, 2014
Patent Number:
8807637
A seal assembly for use with the front trunk, motor or engine compartment of an automobile is provided, the seal assembly including a sealing flange, a sealing member attached to an end portion of the sealing flange, and a hood assembly that includes an upper panel and an inner surface comprised of a sealing surface. The sealing surface of the hood assembly is configured to form a seal with the sealing member when the hood assembly is in a closed position. The sealing surface of the hood…
Sunroof positioning and timing elements
Granted: August 19, 2014
Patent Number:
8807644
Continuous cross sectional profile guide tracks in an outer sliding sunroof/moonroof are provided where both the front and rear mechanism or mechanism links travel fore/aft in the same channels as each other and have fore/aft travel that is limited only by vehicle architecture. The guide track channel is partly or entirely outside/outboard of the primary water/wind sealing system of the sunroof.
Sunroof mechanism linkage with continuous one part guide track
Granted: August 19, 2014
Patent Number:
8807643
Continuous cross sectional profile guide tracks in an outer sliding sunroof/moonroof are provided where both the front and rear mechanism or mechanism links travel fore/aft in the same channels as each other and have fore/aft travel that is limited only by vehicle architecture. The guide track channel is partly or entirely outside/outboard of the primary water/wind sealing system of the sunroof.
