ISE CORPORATION Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20110144840 | Expandable Energy Storage Control System and Method - An expandable energy storage system for a hybrid electric vehicle has one or more energy storage modules each including a plurality of energy storage cells and a module controller, and a system controller which communicates with the module controller or controllers of the one or more energy storage modules via a controller communication bus and which is powered by the vehicle's low voltage power supply. Each module controller communicates with the energy storage cells in the associated module via an energy storage cell communication link, and is powered by the energy storage cells in the associated module. The system controller communicates with the hybrid electric vehicle via the vehicle communication bus. The modular design provides an energy storage system which can be expanded by connecting additional energy storage modules to the system. | 06-16-2011 |
20110130916 | Location Based Vehicle Data Logging and Diagnostic System and Method - A data logging unit configured for installation in a hybrid vehicle communicates with a user device configured to receive data from the data logging unit and to display selected portions of the data to a user for identification of potential vehicle faults associated with vehicle events reported by the vehicle's driver. The data logging unit has a data logger which communicates with hybrid drive system and other vehicle components to receive hybrid drive system data, and with a vehicle position sensor which detects location to receive vehicle location data. A data log processing module correlates location data with the corresponding vehicle data, and creates a correlated log of drive system data and associated vehicle location information, to allow identification of vehicle data within an event window based on vehicle location at the time of a reported event. Accordingly, a user may make a geographical request and the system will report vehicle data corresponding to the geographical request. | 06-02-2011 |
20110130906 | Location Based Vehicle Data Logging and Diagnostic System and Method - A data logging unit configured for installation in a hybrid vehicle communicates with a user device configured to receive data from the data logging unit and to display selected portions of the data to a user for identification of potential vehicle faults associated with vehicle events reported by the vehicle's driver. The data logging unit has a data logger which communicates with hybrid drive system and other vehicle components to receive hybrid drive system data, and with a vehicle position sensor which detects location to receive vehicle location data. A data log processing module correlates location data with the corresponding vehicle data, and creates a correlated log of drive system data and associated vehicle location information, to allow identification of vehicle data within an event window based on vehicle location at the time of a reported event. Accordingly, a user may make a geographical request and the system will report vehicle data corresponding to the geographical request. | 06-02-2011 |
20110130905 | Remote Vehicle Monitoring and Diagnostic System and Method - A vehicle monitoring system and method has a vehicle unit which is mounted in each vehicle and a remote monitoring and diagnostic server or system which receives periodic status information in messages from the vehicle units of all active vehicles and displays the data in a user interface on one or more user devices. The vehicle unit is configured to send periodic first messages containing a first, partial set of vehicle operation status information and periodic second messages containing a second, larger set of status information, and may be switched to send second messages at faster time intervals depending on various conditions. The user interface displays at least part of the second set of vehicle information for a selected vehicle while displaying at least part of the first set of vehicle information for at least some active vehicles sending messages to the remote server. | 06-02-2011 |
20110100735 | Propulsion Energy Storage Control System and Method of Control - A propulsion energy storage control system and method of control interspersed between a heavy duty hybrid-electric drive system and its propulsion energy storage. The control system having an energy storage DC bus, electrical interfaces to the drive system and a plurality of propulsion energy storage subsystems, DC-to-DC converters at each interface, and a controller configured to operate each DC-to-DC converter independently such that power flow may charge, discharge, and shuttle between the plurality of propulsion energy storage subsystems. | 05-05-2011 |
20110071713 | System and Method for Initiating Operation of a Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicle - The present disclosure provides a method and system for powering a hybrid electric vehicle with a fuel cell, and in particular, efficiently initiating power generation in the fuel cell, the method and system comprising electrically connecting a battery to an ultracapacitor-based propulsion energy storage; using the battery to charge the propulsion energy storage to a predetermined voltage level for powering an air delivery compressor for a predetermined amount of time; disconnecting the battery from the propulsion energy storage; electrically connecting the propulsion energy storage to the air delivery compressor; operating the air delivery compressor using the charge on the propulsion energy storage to provide a predetermined quantity of air to the fuel cell; and causing the fuel cell to generate electricity. | 03-24-2011 |
20100305792 | Dynamically Reconfigurable High Power Energy Storage for Hybrid Vehicles - A system for dynamically reconfiguring high power energy storage of a hybrid electric vehicle is described. The system includes a fault detector, a switch network and a controller. The fault detector is configured to detect a fault condition of one or more energy storage modules of the vehicle energy storage. The switch network is configured to electrically bypass one or more faulty energy storage modules. The controller is configured to determine a faulty energy storage module. The controller determines that current flow between the vehicle energy storage and the hybrid electric vehicle is below a minimum threshold and reconfigures operation controls to operate the vehicle energy storage according to a second configuration that accounts for the electrically bypassed faulty energy storage module. The controller also resumes operation of the vehicle energy storage according to the second configuration. | 12-02-2010 |
20100265660 | Energy Storage Cooling System - An energy storage pack cooling system including upper and lower respective terminal heat sinks thermally connected to respective upper and lower terminals of energy storage cells above and below upper and lower ends of an enclosure of an energy storage cell pack; and a blower and cooling assembly that circulates a heat transfer fluid past the upper and lower respective terminal heat sinks outside of the enclosure to cool the energy storage cells without circulating the heat transfer fluid past energy storage cell bodies of the energy storage cells enclosed within the enclosure. | 10-21-2010 |
20100248043 | Hydrogen Fuel Cell Water Knock Out Device and Method of Use - A hydrogen fuel cell water knockout device for an exhaust system of a heavy duty hybrid hydrogen fuel cell transit bus includes an expansion chamber housing forming an expansion chamber, the expansion chamber including a substantially vertical exhaust section and an exhaust flow path there through with a vertically lowest point in the exhaust flow path; a drain; and a condenser disposed at the vertically lowest point in exhaust flow path of the substantially vertical exhaust section in the expansion chamber so that the condenser condenses water from H | 09-30-2010 |
20100232105 | System and Method for Supporting a Plurality of Propulsion Energy Storage Cells Within a Vehicle - An energy storage cell pack cradle assembly for holding multiple rows of energy storage cells oriented along a dominant axis of vibration includes a first cradle member including a plurality of energy storage cell body supporting structures including respective holes; a second cradle member including a plurality of energy storage cell body supporting structures including respective holes; and one or more fasteners connecting the first cradle member and the second cradle member together. The energy storage cell body supporting structures are configured to structurally support the energy storage cells, with the energy storage cells oriented along a dominant axis of vibration, by energy storage cell bodies of the energy storage cells with respective electrically conductive terminals extending through the respective holes without structural support of the electrically conductive terminals by the cradle members. | 09-16-2010 |
20100157532 | ENERGY STORAGE PACK COOLING SYSTEM AND METHOD - An energy storage pack cooling system including upper and lower respective terminal heat sinks thermally connected to respective upper and lower terminals of energy storage cells above and below upper and lower ends of an enclosure of an energy storage cell pack; and a blower and cooling assembly that circulates a heat transfer fluid past the upper and lower respective terminal heat sinks outside of the enclosure to cool the energy storage cells without circulating the heat transfer fluid past energy storage cell bodies of the energy storage cells enclosed within the enclosure. | 06-24-2010 |
20100157527 | High-Power Ultracapacitor Energy Storage Pack and Method of Use - In an energy storage cell pack including at least one energy storage cell that radiates heat in a longitudinal axial direction outwards, towards opposite electrically conductive and heat conductive terminals, a terminal heat sink includes a receiving section for structurally receiving a terminal of the opposite electrically conductive and heat conductive terminals, and more than one heat conductive cooling fin radiating outwardly from the receiving section, wherein the more than one cooling fin radiates outwardly from the terminal when the receiving section structurally receives the terminal for dissipating heat from the terminal to cool the at least one energy storage cell. | 06-24-2010 |
20100145562 | Method of Controlling Engine Stop-Start Operation for Heavy-Duty Hybrid-Electric Vehicles - A start-stop or idle-stop method for a heavy-duty hybrid vehicle that turns off the fuel supply while maintaining the crankshaft rotation of the internal combustion engine when the vehicle stops or, optionally, when the vehicle travels downhill, travels in a noise sensitive location, travels in an exhaust emissions sensitive location, or operates in an emergency situation. The stop-start or idle-stop method automatically turns on the engine fuel supply to restart combustion when the vehicle starts accelerating, is no longer traveling downhill, is no longer traveling in a noise sensitive or exhaust sensitive location, is no longer in an emergency situation, or has dropped below the minimum energy storage restart level. The stop-start or idle-stop may be inhibited upon certain override conditions. | 06-10-2010 |
20100138089 | Hybrid electric vehicle system and method for initiating and operating a hybrid vehicle in a limited operation mode - A system and method for initiating a limited operation mode and operating the hybrid electric vehicle in the limited operation mode is described. The system includes a user interface associated with the hybrid electric vehicle, an operating mode device and a control module. The operating mode device is coupled to the user interface and is configured to initiate one or more vehicle operation modes including a limited operation mode. The operating mode device is further configured to deactivate a second vehicle operation mode if the second vehicle operation mode is currently active in response to initiating the limited operation mode. The control module is coupled to the operating mode device. In some embodiments the control module is configured to generate commands for limiting the hybrid electric vehicle operational performance characteristics when the hybrid electric vehicle is in the limited operation mode. | 06-03-2010 |
20100138064 | High-Power Ultracapacitor Energy Storage Pack and Method of Use - An ultracapacitor energy storage cell pack including an ultracapacitor assembly including a plurality of ultracapacitors in series; a plurality of interconnections for mechanically and electrically interconnecting the ultracapacitors; and a plurality of balancing resistors, each balancing resistor in parallel with each ultracapacitor to form a resistor divider network that automatically discharges and equalizes each ultracapacitor over time, thereby balancing the ultracapacitors of the ultracapacitor assembly, and each balancing resistor directly mechanically and electrically connected to an associated interconnection. | 06-03-2010 |
20100134974 | High-Power Ultracapacitor Energy Storage Pack and Method of Use - An energy storage cell pack cradle assembly for holding multiple rows of energy storage cells oriented along a dominant axis of vibration includes a first cradle member including a plurality of energy storage cell body supporting structures including respective holes; a second cradle member including a plurality of energy storage cell body supporting structures including respective holes; and one or more fasteners connecting the first cradle member and the second cradle member together. The energy storage cell body supporting structures are configured to structurally support the energy storage cells, with the energy storage cells oriented along a dominant axis of vibration, by energy storage cell bodies of the energy storage cells with respective electrically conductive terminals extending through the respective holes without structural support of the electrically conductive terminals by the cradle members. | 06-03-2010 |
20100134940 | Hybrid Vehicle Propulsion Energy Storage System - An energy storage cell pack cradle assembly for holding multiple rows of energy storage cells oriented along a dominant axis of vibration includes a first cradle member including a plurality of energy storage cell body supporting structures including respective holes; a second cradle member including a plurality of energy storage cell body supporting structures including respective holes; and one or more fasteners connecting the first cradle member and the second cradle member together. The energy storage cell body supporting structures are configured to structurally support the energy storage cells, with the energy storage cells oriented along a dominant axis of vibration, by energy storage cell bodies of the energy storage cells with respective electrically conductive terminals extending through the respective holes without structural support of the electrically conductive terminals by the cradle members. | 06-03-2010 |
20100133029 | System and Method for Initiating Operation of a Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicle - The present disclosure provides a method and system for powering a hybrid electric vehicle with a fuel cell, and in particular, efficiently initiating power generation in the fuel cell, the method and system comprising electrically connecting a battery to an ultracapacitor-based propulsion energy storage; using the battery to charge the propulsion energy storage to a predetermined voltage level for powering an air delivery compressor for a predetermined amount of time; disconnecting the battery from the propulsion energy storage; electrically connecting the propulsion energy storage to the air delivery compressor; operating the air delivery compressor using the charge on the propulsion energy storage to provide a predetermined quantity of air to the fuel cell; and causing the fuel cell to generate electricity. | 06-03-2010 |
20100133025 | Expandable Energy Storage Control System Architecture - A hybrid electric vehicle drive system comprises a first power bus electrically coupled to a motive power subsystem and a drive wheel propulsion assembly; a second power bus electrically coupled to the first power bus and a plurality of energy storage subsystems, wherein the first power bus is configured to allow electrical power to be transmitted among the motive power subsystem, the drive wheel propulsion assembly, and the second power bus, and wherein the second power bus is configured to allow electrical power to be transmitted among the plurality of energy storage subsystems and the first power bus. | 06-03-2010 |
20090300595 | System and Method for Remotely Updating Control Software in a Vehicle With an Electric Drive System - A method of remotely updating control software in a heavy-duty vehicle having at least one programmed controller including securing the heavy-duty vehicle; determining that the vehicle is secured; establishing a wireless connection with the heavy-duty vehicle; downloading an updated control software; and updating the heavy-duty vehicle's control software with the updated control software in response to the determining that the vehicle is secured. | 12-03-2009 |
20090272576 | Vehicle High Power Cable Fastening System and Method - A cable fastening system for high power cables that operates within a heavy duty vehicle is described. The cable fastening system comprises at least three conductive high-power cables and a cable spacer. The high-power cables include a cable cross-sectional center, and a cross-sectional diameter that is similar for each cable. The cable spacer includes three fixed arms and three arcuate edges. The three fixed arms are disposed at equidistant angles from one another. The three arcuate edges are disposed at equidistant angles from one another and each of the arcuate edges is configured to interface with one of the conductive high-power cables. The cable cross-sectional centers and oriented in a triangular formation and the cable spacer is configured to separate the cables so that the distance between two adjacent cable cross-sectional centers is less than one times the cross-sectional diameter. | 11-05-2009 |
20090271057 | Hybrid Vehicle Vibration Reduction System and Method - A method for reducing vibration in a hybrid-electric vehicle including initiating a shut-down sequence of an internal combustion engine of the a hybrid-electric vehicle; providing an open port to at least one combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine; and shutting down the internal combustion engine. | 10-29-2009 |
20090190273 | Ultracapacitor Overvoltage Protection Circuit With Self Verification - A system and method for protecting a hybrid electric vehicle propulsion energy storage pack from an overvoltage condition is described. The energy storage pack includes a plurality of energy storage cells electrically connected in series and electrically coupled with a vehicle direct current (DC) bus. The system includes one or more overvoltage detection circuits, a disconnect circuit and one or more connection verification circuits. The one or more voltage detection circuits detect an overvoltage condition across a subset of the plurality of energy storage cells. The disconnect circuit electrically decouples the energy storage pack from the DC power bus upon detection of an overvoltage condition across the subset of the plurality of energy storage cells. The one or more connection verification circuits verify that the overvoltage detection circuit is electrically coupled to the subset of the plurality of energy storage cells. | 07-30-2009 |
20090174972 | High-Power Ultracapacitor Energy Storage Pack and Method of Use - An ultracapacitor energy storage cell pack includes an ultracapacitor assembly including a plurality of parallel ultracapacitors and balancing resistors in series; an enclosure for the ultracapacitor assembly; a controller; one or more temperature sensors; a pack voltage sensor; a GFI sensor; one or more cooling fans carried by the enclosure; an on/off relay coupled to the ultracapacitor assembly and the controller, the on/off relay activated by the controller during normal operation of the ultracapacitor assembly and deactivated by the controller when the GFI sensor detects a ground fault interrupt condition, the one or more temperature sensors detect an over-temperature condition, or the pack voltage sensor detects an over-voltage condition; and a pre-charge resistor and a pre-charge relay coupled to the ultracapacitor assembly and the controller, and activated by the controller to cause the pre-charge resistor to limit pack charge current until the ultracapacitor assembly reaches a minimum voltage. | 07-09-2009 |
20090140702 | System and Method for Precharging and Discharging a High Power Ultracapacitor Pack - This invention is a system and a method that uses the braking resistor, commonly used and available in electrically or hybrid-electrically propelled vehicles, to limit the precharge current during the startup of a high power ultracapacitor pack energy storage device and/or safely and rapidly discharge an ultracapacitor pack for maintenance work or storage to lengthen the life of the individual ultracapacitor cells and, correspondingly, the whole pack. The use of the braking resistor for precharging an ultracapacitor energy storage pack is an effective and less expensive method compared to other methods such as a separate DC-to-DC converter. This method includes the control logic sequence to activate and deactivate switching devices that perform the connections for the charging and discharging current paths. | 06-04-2009 |
20090090122 | HVAC System and Method for Over the Road Motor Coaches - A method of using an externally powered HVAC system for an over-the-road motor coach includes coupling the HVAC system to an external shore power source at a temporary stop location for the over-the-road motor coach while the over-the-road motor coach is parked and vehicle engine is turned off; receiving electrical power from the electrical outlet to power the HVAC system; and using the HVAC system to circulate refrigerant for heating or cooling an interior cabin of the over-the-road motor coach and power HVAC fans to ventilate the interior cabin of the over-the-road motor coach. | 04-09-2009 |
20090080126 | Energy Storage Device Coupler and Method - An energy storage device coupler for transferring heat away from ends of ultracapacitors of an ultracapacitor energy storage cell pack without shorting out terminals to cases of the ultracapacitors. The energy storage device coupler includes an ultracapacitor engagement member configured to be in thermal contact with the end of the ultracapacitor and including and holes configured to receive terminals of adjacent ultracapacitors; and a heat sink engagement member connected to the ultracapacitor engagement member and configured to be coupled to one or more heat sink devices for removing heat from the ultracapacitor. | 03-26-2009 |
20090021871 | Energy Storage Pack Having Overvoltage Protection and Method of Protection - An energy storage pack specially adapted for a hybrid electric vehicle, the energy storage pack having overvoltage protection and a method of protecting the same. In particular, the energy storage pack includes a robust, low-cost, parasitic circuit configured to detect overvoltage conditions within the vehicle energy storage and report it to the vehicle. | 01-22-2009 |
20090001732 | Generator Voltage Stabilization System and Method - A generator voltage stabilization system of a heavy-duty vehicle hybrid-electric drive system, which has an engine and a generator coupled with the engine for generating power that varies with rotational speed of the engine, includes one or more circuits having at least one of a DC/DC converter and an DC/AC converter configured to be coupled to the generator, and receive varying power input from the generator and provide stabilized voltage output power; and a control computer coupled to the one or more circuits to control the one or more circuits to provide stabilized voltage output power with varying power input from the generator. | 01-01-2009 |
20080277175 | Fuel Cell Hybrid-Electric Heavy-Duty Vehicle Drive System and Method - A system and a method that provides fuel cell and energy storage hybrid-electric propulsion and control for a heavy-duty vehicle over 10,000 pounds GVWR. Power output is supplied from a fuel cell system to a high-power intermediate DC bus through a fuel cell DC/DC converter. Power output is supplied from an energy storage system to the high-power intermediate DC bus through a separate energy storage fuel cell DC/DC converter. The received power is combined on the high-power intermediate DC bus to create a stable voltage. The stable voltage from the high-power intermediate DC bus is supplied to one or more electric motors/generators to accelerate the heavy duty vehicle. | 11-13-2008 |
20080251039 | Vehicle Rooftop Engine Cooling System - A method of using an engine cooling system with a bus includes providing a horizontal rooftop engine cooling system including a radiator unit through which coolant fluid flows for removing heat from the radiator unit, a fan to assist in removing heat from the radiator unit, and a continuously variable power drive and speed control system for controlling power to and the speed of the fan; horizontally locating the rooftop engine cooling system on a rooftop of the bus; interconnecting the radiator unit of the rooftop engine cooling system to a passage of an engine of the bus to allow coolant to flow between the engine and the rooftop cooling system to cool the engine; and controlling power to and the speed of the fan with the continuously variable power drive and speed control system using pulse width modulation. | 10-16-2008 |