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.
Mechanism components integrated into structural sunroof framework
Granted: August 19, 2014
Patent Number:
8807642
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.
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…
Electric vehicle extended range hybrid battery pack system
Granted: August 12, 2014
Patent Number:
8803471
A power source comprised of a first battery pack (e.g., a non-metal-air battery pack) and a second battery pack (e.g., a metal-air battery pack) is provided, wherein the second battery pack is only used as required by the state-of-charge (SOC) of the first battery pack or as a result of the user selecting an extended range mode of operation. Minimizing use of the second battery pack prevents it from undergoing unnecessary, and potentially lifetime limiting, charge cycles. The second…
Electric vehicle extended range hybrid battery pack system
Granted: August 12, 2014
Patent Number:
8803470
A power source comprised of a first battery pack (e.g., a non-metal-air battery pack) and a second battery pack (e.g., a metal-air battery pack) is provided, wherein the second battery pack is used when the user selects an extended range mode of operation. Minimizing use of the second battery pack prevents it from undergoing unnecessary, and potentially lifetime limiting, charge cycles.
Glass-run retainer for automobile door and door structure of automobile
Granted: August 12, 2014
Patent Number:
8800207
An integrated retainer in which an inner part of a retainer upper part extending above a door belt line and an inner part of a retainer lower part extending below the door belt are continuous without a joint line is employed for an automobile door. The retainer lower part has an approximate U shape including an inner part and an outer part as glass-run holding parts. The retainer upper part includes only an inner part as a glass-run holding part.
Battery pack exhaust nozzle
Granted: July 15, 2014
Patent Number:
8778519
A thermal management system is provided that minimizes the effects of thermal runaway within a battery pack. The system includes a sealed battery pack enclosure configured to hold a plurality of batteries and at least one exhaust nozzle assembly. The exhaust nozzle assembly includes an exhaust nozzle that passes and directs the flow of hot gas from within the battery pack to the ambient environment during a thermal runaway event, a nozzle seal mounted within the exhaust nozzle that seals…
Rotor temperature estimation and motor control torque limiting for vector-controlled AC induction motors
Granted: July 8, 2014
Patent Number:
8773058
A system and method including a runtime thermal model that estimates individual component temperatures, permitting the system to only limit power when necessary or desirable. A power-limiting system for a vector-controlled AC induction motor includes a torque command system for generating a torque command; a thermal protection system determining a runtime estimate for a temperature of a component of a rotational electro-magnetic component of the vector-controlled AC induction motor; and…
Method and apparatus for extending lifetime for rechargeable stationary energy storage devices
Granted: July 8, 2014
Patent Number:
8773066
A flexible management system and method for efficiently operating energy storage devices to extend the lifetime and decrease costs includes (a) determining an active energy consumption period for the energy storage device; (b) determining an inactive energy consumption period for the energy storage device; (c) operating the energy storage device in a usage mode during the active energy consumption period; and (d) operating the energy storage device in a storage mode during the inactive…
High voltage cable connector
Granted: July 8, 2014
Patent Number:
8771013
A system and method for a shielded coaxial cable including a collar including a cylindrical housing having a cylindrical inner bore, the inner bore having top and bottom openings the top opening having a diameter about equal to an outer diameter of an outer insulating layer of the cable and the bottom opening having a diameter about equal to an outer diameter of a shield layer of the cable with a terminating portion of the shield layer exposed and returned over an exterior portion of…
Augmented vehicle seat mount
Granted: July 8, 2014
Patent Number:
RE44994
A vehicle seat mounting assembly is provided in which the seat mounts are attached to body cross-members that are, in turn, mechanically coupled to battery pack cross-members contained within a battery pack enclosure mounted under the vehicle.
Common mode voltage enumeration in a battery pack
Granted: July 1, 2014
Patent Number:
8765276
An apparatus and method for these embodiments of the present invention, useful in manufacturing for example, includes a plurality of battery modules serially intercoupled together, each module including a housing with an anode connector and a cathode connector, each housing including a memory for storing a module identifier and wherein an anode connector of a first module is coupled to a cathode connector of a second module; and a processing system, coupled to each the module, for…
Method of operating a dual motor drive and control system for an electric vehicle
Granted: June 24, 2014
Patent Number:
8761985
A method for optimizing the torque applied by each motor of a dual motor drive system of an all-electric vehicle is provided, the torque adjustments taking into account wheel slip as well as other vehicular operating conditions.
Fast switching for power inverter
Granted: June 24, 2014
Patent Number:
8760898
An apparatus includes an inverter including a high-side switch coupled to a low-side switch, the inverter generating a time-varying drive current from a plurality of drive control signals, a positive rail voltage, and a negative rail voltage wherein controlling the switches to generate the time-varying drive current produces a potential transitory overshoot condition for one of the switches of the inverter; a drive control, coupled to the inverter, to generate the drive control signals…
Extruded and ribbed thermal interface for use with a battery cooling system
Granted: June 24, 2014
Patent Number:
8758924
A cooling manifold assembly for use in a battery pack thermal management system is provided. The cooling manifold assembly includes a coolant tube that is interposed between at least a first row of cells and a second row of cells, where the first and second rows of cells are adjacent and preferably offset from one another. A thermal interface layer is attached to the cooling tube, the thermal interface layer including a plurality of pliable fingers that extend away from the cooling tube…
Reinforced B-pillar assembly with reinforced rocker joint
Granted: June 24, 2014
Patent Number:
8757709
A reinforced B-pillar assembly that achieves improved side impact resistance is provided in which the B-pillar assembly is mechanically coupled to an outer mounting surface of the rocker panel as well as to an extended brace that is attached to the upper and rear mounting surfaces of the rocker.
Fast charging of battery using adjustable voltage control
Granted: June 17, 2014
Patent Number:
8754614
A battery cell charger for rapidly charging a lithium ion battery cell (or string of series-parallel connected cells) having a maximum battery cell voltage the battery cell charging system including: a circuit for charging the battery cell using an adjustable voltage charging-profile to apply a charging voltage and a charging current to the battery cell wherein the adjustable voltage charging-profile includes: a first charging stage with a constant first stage charging current and an…
Charge port door with electromagnetic latching assembly
Granted: May 13, 2014
Patent Number:
8720968
A door latching system for the door covering the charge port of an electric vehicle, or for the door covering the fuel filler port of a conventional vehicle, is provided. The door latching system is comprised of a ferromagnetic member attached to an interior surface of the door, and a latching assembly integrated into the port housing, where the latching assembly includes an assembly case, an electromagnet, and a permanent magnet that maintains the door in a closed position when the…
Sunroof utilizing two independent motors
Granted: April 29, 2014
Patent Number:
8708404
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.
