Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Ford Motor Company Limited

Ronald C Elder

Michael W Degner

Patrick Daniel Maguire

Franco Leonardi

Steven Yellin Schondorf

Philip Michael Gonzales

Xiao Guang Yang

Jacob Mathews

Shaun L McCarthy

Bob Taenaka

John L Bomback

Phillip Gonzales

A system and method for rebalancing a battery in a vehicle during vehicle operation, the battery including a plurality of modules, is provided. The method may include determining when an automatic rebalance mode start condition is satisfied, modifying a target state of charge for the battery at least in part in response to the start condition being satisfied such that the target state of charge is raised from a standard operating value to a rebalance value, operating the vehicle with the target state of charge at the rebalance value, determining when an automatic rebalance mode end condition or an interrupt condition is satisfied, and modifying the target state of charge in response to the automatic rebalance mode end condition or the interrupt condition being satisfied such that the target state of charge is lowered from the rebalance value to the standard operating value.

System and method for rebalancing modules of a battery during vehicle operation

A battery and ultracapacitor device for use in a vehicle includes a positive electrode, a first negative electrode, a second negative electrode, a first separator disposed between the positive electrode and the first and second negative electrodes, and a controller communicating with the positive electrode, the first negative electrode, and the second negative electrode. A first negative electrode has a first composition and communicates with the first positive electrode. The second negative electrode has a second composition and is adjacent to the first negative electrode and a second separator. The second negative electrode communicates with the positive electrode and the first negative electrode. The first negative electrode comprises a secondary battery negative electrode. The second negative electrode comprises an ultracapacitor negative electrode.

Battery and ultracapacitor device and method of use

A sensor arrangement includes, in some embodiments, a magnetostrictive element configured to output magnetic signals in response to a magnetic field. A sensor is configured to sense a value of a property of a selected object, and to provide an electrical resistance that varies in response to variations in the sensed value. The sensor cooperates with the magnetostrictive element to vary the frequency of the signals output by the magnetostrictive element based on variations of the electrical resistance provided by the sensor. A transmitter provides an alternating magnetic field to the magnetostrictive element, and a receiver picks up the magnetic signals generated by the magnetostrictive element. The frequency of the signals received is correlated with the sensor resistance, and the resistance is correlated to a value of the property sensed.

Sensor arrangement and method for using same

A system and method for controlling the state of charge of an energy storage system examines a number of parameters to determine if a target state of charge should be adjusted. Parameters related to one or more of: a target life span of the energy storage system, driving habits of a vehicle operator, or environmental conditions are examined. The target state of charge is changed from a predetermined baseline target state of charge when the parameter values meet predetermined conditions.

System and method for controlling a state of charge of an energy storage system

A power supply system is provided that can operate with energy storage units of varying voltages and temperatures, that can correct voltage and temperature deviations, and that can continue to provide power when an energy storage unit is inoperable. A power supply system is also provided that can recondition an energy storage unit during vehicle operation.

Power supply system and method for supplying power to a vehicle

A capacitance transducer has a first hermetically sealed cavity adapted to deform in response to an applied force, such as pressure or acceleration, and a second hermetically sealed cavity adapted to resist deformation in response to such applied force. The cavities are formed between two doped silicon layers separated by a selectively etched electrically insulating spacer layer. Multiple medial electrically insulating cavity area spacer segments within the second cavity resist deformation thereof in response to the applied force to be measured. The capacitance transducer can be manufactured from doped silicon wafers using well developed silicon wafer processing techniques.

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Detroit, MI, United States of America

Ronald C Elder