General Motors Patents

General Motors Company designs, builds and sells cars, trucks and automobile parts worldwide. Its main brands include Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC. Outside of North America, it also markets vehicles under the Holden, Open and Vauxhall. In Asia, subsidiaries also design, manufacture, and market vehicles under the Alpheon, Baojun, Jiefan ang Wuling brands. The company provides automotive financing services through GM Financial.

General Motors Patents by Type
  • Publication number: 20240077607
    Abstract: A method, system and vehicle that repetitively correct angle offsets in a synthetic aperture radar image of a vehicle while the vehicle is in motion by utilizing a radar system and a camera to determine accurate velocity of a measured object by matching angles of the object in the SAR image with angles of the object in the camera image, thereby reducing angle offsets of objects in the SAR image. The method includes obtaining an SAR image of another vehicle via a radar unit of the vehicle, obtaining a camera image of the other vehicle via a camera unit of the vehicle, determining an association between at least one object in the SAR image and a corresponding at least one object in the camera image, correcting a velocity estimation of the vehicle based on the determined association, and adjusting the SAR image based on the corrected velocity estimation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2022
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Oded Bialer, Dan Levi
  • Patent number: 11919276
    Abstract: Presented are multilayer composite panels for motor vehicles, methods for making/using such panels, and motor vehicles with transparent composite roof panels having localized reinforcement features. A sandwich-type multilayer composite panel contains one or more exterior layers each including a transparent rigid material, one or more bonding layers each including a transparent adhesive material, and one or more structural reinforcement layers each including a fiber-reinforced polymer material. Each structural reinforcement layer may be attached directly to a bonding layer and/or exterior layer. The composite panel may also include one or more IR-reflective layers, one or more light-absorbing sunshade layers, and one or more insulating low-k layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Bradley A. Newcomb, Julien P. Mourou, Giles D. Bryer, Joung Min Choi, Thomas S. Prevost
  • Patent number: 11919497
    Abstract: Methods and systems to assist maneuvering of a trailer being towed by a vehicle. The trailer includes a left wheel, a right wheel, an axle, a left brake device coupled to the left wheel, and a right brake device coupled to the right wheel. The methods and systems receive a driver command for a target path for the trailer, determine a left braking torque for the left wheel and a right braking torque for the right wheel based on the target path so as to provide for differential braking, and apply, via the left brake device and the right brake device, the left braking torque and the right braking torque to assist maneuvering of the trailer along the target path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Bruno Bennati, Steven Reini, Halit Zengin, Manvir Dulai
  • Patent number: 11922804
    Abstract: A method of utilizing basic safety messages (BSMs) to provide insight of traffic situations to a vehicle-to-everything (V2X) enabled vehicle includes one or more of the following: transmitting BSMs from on-road vehicles; forwarding V2X messages including BSMs to a multi-access edge computing (MEC) server; extracting data samples from the V2X messages including BSMs; generating statistical results from the extracted data samples; and visualizing the statistical results for a driver of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Yuan Zhang
  • Patent number: 11920678
    Abstract: A parking pawl assembly having a housing, a parking pawl having a pin bore, a support sleeve fitted in the pin bore, and a pivot pin inserted through the support sleeve. The pivot pin is attached to the housing, thus pivotally attaching the parking pawl to the housing. The parking pawl includes a first end and a second end spaced from the first end. The first end defines the pin bore having an interior bore surface. The support sleeve includes an exterior surface fitted to the interior bore surface of the parking pawl. The exterior surface of the support sleeve may include outer diameter rolled threads or other locking features. The interior bore surface of the parking pawl may include inner diameter rolled threads operable to receive the outer diameter rolled threads of the support sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Lokesh Choudhary, Qigui Wang, Wenying Yang, Marcel Taran, Gregory Melekian, Alexey Rubin
  • Patent number: 11924527
    Abstract: An optical sensor system operative for receiving, by a processor, a first image captured by a visible light camera, determining a value of a characteristic of the first image, determining an environmental condition in response to the value being less than a threshold, activating an infrared camera in response to the environmental condition, capturing a second image by the visible light camera and a third image by the infrared camera, generating a fused image in response to the second image and the third image, detecting an object in response to the fused image, and controlling a vehicle in response to the detection of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Sai Vishnu Aluru, Brian Yousif-Dickow
  • Patent number: 11921194
    Abstract: A radar anti-spoofing system for an autonomous vehicle includes a plurality of radar sensors that generate a plurality of input detection points representing radio frequency (RF) signals reflected from objects and a controller in electronic communication with the plurality of radar sensors. The one or more controllers execute instructions to determine a signal to noise ratio (SNR) distance ratio for the input detection points generated by the plurality of radar sensors, where a value of the SNR distance ratio is indicative of an object being a ghost vehicle. The one or more controllers also determine an effective particle number indicating a degree of particle degradation for the importance sampling for each variable that is part of the state variable. In response to determining the effective particle number is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold, the one or more controllers estimate a ghost position for the ghost vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Yuri Owechko, Qin Jiang, Hyukseong Kwon
  • Patent number: 11919582
    Abstract: In various embodiments, methods, systems, and vehicle apparatuses are provided. A method for lateral control of a steering system includes identifying at least one parameter of at least one lateral control feature that results in an optimized value in an outcome of control for a lateral control feature enabling robustness to an uncertainty; adaptively adjusting an output control signal generated by a vehicle trajectory controller coupled to the steering controller, by quantifying the uncertainty of an uncertain value in a lateral control feature; and sending a control command including at least a torque control or a wheel angle control to compensate for the uncertainty of the at least one uncertain value in the configuration of components of an electronic power steering (EPS) system associated with the vehicle variant by correcting at least one parameter of the at least one lateral control feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATION LLC
    Inventors: Mohammadali Shahriari, Mohammed Raju Hossain, Ashraf Abualfellat, Brian Porto
  • Patent number: 11919392
    Abstract: A virtual 3D display for a motor vehicle includes a substrate and a flexible display positioned on the substrate. The flexible display is rollable and bendable within a cabin of the motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Joseph F. Szczerba, Ke Liu
  • Patent number: 11919419
    Abstract: A method to manage thermal propagation in an energy storage device of a battery electric vehicle is provided. The method includes operating the battery electric vehicle with a plurality of distinct battery cell module groups each separately providing electrical power to the battery electric vehicle. The method further includes, within a computerized battery cell module groups controller, monitoring conditions within the distinct battery cell module groups, determining occurrence of an abnormal event within one of a plurality of the distinct battery cell module groups based upon the monitored conditions, and controlling operation of the battery electric vehicle based upon the determined occurrence of the abnormal event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Bin Li, Calvin Goodman
  • Patent number: 11919475
    Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, a system is provided that includes a sensor, a computer memory, and a processor. The sensor is configured to be disposed on a vehicle, and is configured to obtain sound or vibration data for the vehicle. The computer memory is configured to store a plurality of known signatures pertaining to a plurality of different types of vehicle theft events. The processor is configured to: compare a signature of the data with the plurality of known signatures stored in the computer memory; and determine whether a vehicle theft event is occurring based on the comparing of the signature of the data with the plurality of known signatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Edward Gilbert-Eyres, Russell A. Patenaude, Eric T. Hosey
  • Patent number: 11923686
    Abstract: In accordance with exemplary embodiments, methods and systems are provided for providing electrical power for a manufacturing facility for manufacturing of a vehicle, the vehicle having a rechargeable energy storage system (RESS) and a processor, including: positioning the vehicle at the manufacturing facility, the manufacturing facility having an electrical component; and providing electrical power from the RESS of the vehicle to the electrical component of the manufacturing facility, in accordance with instructions provided by the processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Michael R Kaphengst, Seog-Chan Oh, Joshua Lee Solomon, James W Wells, Alfred Manser, Barry L Farmer
  • Patent number: 11922806
    Abstract: An automobile vehicle continuous validation system includes a backend collecting data from a vehicle fleet and wirelessly communicating with the vehicle fleet. The backend is in wireless communication with at least one client. A vehicle module is provided on-board individual ones of multiple automobile vehicles of the vehicle fleet and performing an on-board vehicle validation analysis. A fleet-based validation module provided either at the backend or cloud based manages data defining a configuration of and a capability of the multiple automobile vehicles of the vehicle fleet. A validation manager generates validation tasks based on a user's definition or a desired production of the validation tasks of the validation analysis and a fleet vehicle availability. A client-side module remote from the multiple automobile vehicles of the vehicle fleet has interface items applied by the at least one client seeking to perform the validation analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Shige Wang, Wei Tong, Shuqing Zeng, Xiaofeng Frank Song, Sourav Dey, Praveen Choudhury
  • Patent number: 11922704
    Abstract: A method for detecting road edges at a predetermined intersection, comprising: receiving, by the controller, aerial imagery data about the predetermined intersection; receiving, by the controller, vehicle telemetry data from at least one vehicle passing through the predetermined intersection; detecting, using the aerial imagery data and generative adversarial networks (GANs) executed on the controller, road edges at the predetermined intersection; classifying, using the vehicle telemetry data and a random forest classifier (RFC) executed on the controller, each vehicle trajectory passing through the predetermined intersection with a label corresponding to a unique maneuver to create a maneuver labeling at the predetermined intersection; constructing, using the maneuver labeling determined by the RFC and the road edges, a probabilistic finite state automata (PFSA) to pair inbound lanes with outbound lanes at the predetermined intersection; and determining lane edges at the predetermined intersection using a ho
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Najah Ghalyan, Kaydee Hartmann, Sean D. Vermillion, Mason D. Gemar, Rajesh Ayyalasomayajula
  • Publication number: 20240072242
    Abstract: A method for forming an electrode for an electrochemical cell that cycles lithium ions is provided. The method includes contacting a precursor electroactive material and a conductive material to a polymeric solution including a first solvent and a binder material to form a first admixture; applying a mixing force to the first admixture to form a first mixture; drying the first mixture to form a plurality of electroactive material agglomerates, each agglomerate including an electroactive material particle in contact with the conductive material via the binder material; contacting the plurality of electroactive material agglomerates to a second solvent to form a second admixture, the binder material being insoluble in the second solvent; applying a mixing force to the second admixture to form a second mixture; and disposing the second mixture on or near one or more surfaces of a current collector to form the electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2022
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Meng JIANG, Gongshin QI, Louis G. HECTOR, JR.
  • Publication number: 20240072717
    Abstract: A control system for a rotary electric machine includes an inverter including a plurality of power switches, a heat exchanger, first temperature sensors arranged to monitor the power switches, a second temperature sensor arranged to monitor the heat exchanger, and a controller. An expected power loss is determined based upon electric current, switching functions, and electrical characteristics of the power switches. A plurality of power capacity terms are determined based upon the expected power loss in the inverter, the temperatures of the power switches, and the temperature of the heat exchanger. The inverter is controlled based upon the aforementioned power capacities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2022
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Tanvi Nagarale, Brent S. Gagas, Brian A. Welchko
  • Publication number: 20240072259
    Abstract: A system including a lithium-ion battery cell is disclosed. The lithium-ion battery cell includes a first electrode. The first electrode includes a current collector including a surface and an electrode coating formed from an electrode coating slurry and disposed on the current collector. The electrode coating slurry includes a plurality of flakes of flake graphite. Each of the plurality of flakes includes two parallel planar surfaces and an edge plane defined by the two parallel planar surfaces. The edge planes of the plurality of flakes are statistically facing toward the surface of the current collector. The first electrode further includes a conductive material including a high aspect ratio nano-sized carbon material. The carbon material is configured for providing attractive forces between components of the electrode coating. The lithium-ion battery cell further includes a second electrode, a separator disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, and an electrolyte.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2022
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Michael A. Lelli, Seung-Woo Chu, Gayatri V. Dadheech
  • Publication number: 20240067002
    Abstract: Presented are anti-buckling cables for battery assembly shear plates, methods for making/using such anti-buckling cables, and electric-drive vehicles equipped with traction battery packs having impact-attenuating shear plates joined by anti-buckling cables. A battery assembly includes multiple battery cells, such as lithium-class prismatic, pouch, or can-type cells arranged in rows and columns, that are housed inside a protective battery container, such as an electrically insulated battery pack housing. A pair of rigid, impact-attenuating (top and bottom) shear plates is attached to opposing (top and bottom) sides of the battery container, sandwiching therebetween the battery cells. An engineered pattern of tether cables extends through the battery container with cable each rigidly secured at opposing ends thereof to the two shear plates. The tether cables are electrically non-conductive and structurally join together the vertically spaced, mutually parallel shear plates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2022
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Mark A. Voss, Edward D. Moss, Christopher A. Michaels, Bhavesh Shah
  • Publication number: 20240067174
    Abstract: Vehicles and related systems and methods are provided for controlling a vehicle in an autonomous operating mode. One method involves identifying an object in a potential incursion zone corresponding to a lane adjacent to a current lane of travel for the vehicle, determining an estimated time in zone associated with the object, and in response to determining the estimated time in zone is greater than a threshold, determining a longitudinal adjustment strategy to reduce the estimated time in zone associated with the object, determining an adjusted speed for the vehicle in accordance with the longitudinal adjustment strategy, determining a longitudinal trajectory for the vehicle within the current lane of travel based at least in part on the adjusted speed, and autonomously operating one or more actuators onboard the vehicle in accordance with the longitudinal trajectory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2022
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Paul A. Adam, Jeffrey S. Parks, Avesta Goodarzi, Shaun C. Bowman
  • Publication number: 20240072565
    Abstract: A battery charging system includes a charger that is dynamically controlled during charging, including during rapid charging events that include elevated voltage and/or elevated current levels. The charger is connectable to a battery cell of a rechargeable energy storage system. Operation includes transferring electric power having a charging current at a maximum charging rate to the battery cell. An anode potential offset setpoint is determined. A predicted anode potential offset is determined at an interface between the anode and the separator based upon the cell voltage for the battery cell. The charger is controlled to transfer the electric power to the battery cell based upon a temperature distribution in the battery cell and a difference between the anode potential offset setpoint and the predicted anode potential offset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2022
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Han Zhang, Taylor R. Garrick, Brian J. Koch
  • Publication number: 20240072346
    Abstract: A system for a high-performance prismatic lithium-ion battery cell is provided. The system includes a battery cell stack including an electrode sub-assembly including a plurality of pairs of anode electrodes and cathode electrodes and including a planar side. The battery cell stack further includes a polymeric shell disposed around the electrode sub-assembly and configured for providing mechanical protection and electrical insulation to the electrode sub-assembly. The battery cell stack further includes a metal foil sheet attached to the polymeric shell and disposed next to and in contact with the planar side of the electrode sub-assembly, wherein the metal foil sheet is configured for exchanging heat with the electrode sub-assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2022
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Seung-Woo Chu
  • Publication number: 20240072709
    Abstract: The concepts described herein provide a method, apparatus, and system for controlling an inverter by modifying duty cycles of the PWM control signals in a manner that achieves a minimum duration between consecutive switching events in the inverter, which serves to reduce common mode current in the bearing(s) of an attached rotary electric machine. To minimize the effect of additional current and voltage ripple into the system, the minimum switching duration is defined in relation to a modulation index and geometric location near the sector boundaries of the respective inverter voltage space vector diagram.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2022
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Kerrie M. Spaven, Brent S. Gagas, Brian J. Gallert, Brian A. Welchko
  • Publication number: 20240067190
    Abstract: A method for determining a sampling rate of occupancy data for a vehicle includes determining a vehicle speed and detecting whether an interrupt condition is present. If the speed is within a first speed range and no interrupt condition is detected, then a first sampling rate is selected for sampling the occupancy data. If the speed is within a second speed range that is higher than the first speed range, and/or if the interrupt condition is detected, then a second sampling rate which is faster than the first sampling rate is selected for sampling the occupancy data. A primary electronic control unit (ECU) may be configured for sampling the occupancy data. If the second sampling rate is selected and a computational demand of the primary ECU exceeds a predetermined threshold, then a portion of the computational demand may be transferred to one or more secondary ECUs for sampling the data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2022
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Matthew E. Gilbert-Eyres, Eric T. Hosey, Russell A. Patenaude, Gaurav Talwar, Matthew Neely
  • Publication number: 20240067220
    Abstract: Automated driver assistance systems and methods for towing predict vehicle/trailer instabilities and adapt automated driving control to avoid them. A tow-vehicle includes a controller that, through an actuator system, controls speed and/or steering. A map system and/or a sensor system monitor a roadway on which the vehicle is travelling to identify a road profile located ahead of the vehicle over a prediction horizon. A projected trajectory for navigating the vehicle through the road profile over the prediction horizon and considering environmental conditions is determined. Before travel over the road profile, whether the projected trajectory through the road profile will result in exceeding a vehicle dynamic threshold is determined. When the projected trajectory will result in exceeding the vehicle dynamic threshold through the road profile, a control action is determined to prevent instability and optimize driver experience. The vehicle is operated through the road profile using the control action.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2022
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Mohammadali Shahriari, Ashraf Abualfellat, Reza Zarringhalam, Mehdi Abroshan, Michael B. Peppard
  • Publication number: 20240069568
    Abstract: A system of managing charging schedules in a fleet having electric vehicles includes a command unit. The command unit has a processor and tangible, non-transitory memory on which instructions are recorded. The command unit is adapted to define a plurality of discharge categories, including a transportation category, a transfer category and a reserve energy category. The respective battery power in the electric vehicles is proportioned by setting a respective percentage allocation for the plurality of discharge categories. The command unit is adapted to signal the electric vehicles to charge when at least one of the plurality of discharge categories falls below the respective percentage allocation. The command unit may be adapted to group the electric vehicles in respective virtual boxes based in part on their respective physical locations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2022
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Venkata Naga Siva Vikas Vemuri, Omer Tsimhoni, Andrew J. MacDonald, Vishnu Chikondla, Charles A. Everhart, Rajas M. Sevekari
  • Patent number: 11912330
    Abstract: A modular steering wheel assembly includes a central hub having a center support, a first support element extending outwardly from the center support in a first direction and a second support element extending outwardly from the center support in a second direction. The first support element includes a first connector member and a second connector member, and the second support element includes a first connector element and a second connector element. A first steering wheel member is detachably connected to at least one of the first connector member and the second connector member, and a second steering wheel member is detachably connected to at least one of the first connector element and the second connector element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Dong Yeon Yoo
  • Patent number: 11914120
    Abstract: A windshield corrective optical system includes a motor vehicle having a windshield. A camera is positioned within an occupant compartment of the motor vehicle directed toward the windshield and receiving light rays passing through the windshield. A sensor is configured to receive the light rays. A corrective element is configured to allow passage of the light rays through the corrective element to the sensor. The corrective element corrects aberrations of the light rays induced by passing through the windshield prior to the light rays reaching the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Tzvi Philipp, Brian Yousif-Dickow
  • Patent number: 11913085
    Abstract: A method for preparing a press-hardened steel component is provided. The method includes forming a heated blank by heating a steel alloy blank to a first temperature in a first zone of a furnace having two or more zones, and after the heating of the steel alloy blank to the first temperature, heating the steel alloy blank to a second temperature in a second zone of the furnace. The second temperature is greater than the first temperature. The first zone has a first flow rate for a protective gas, and the second zone has a second flow rate for the protective gas that is greater than the first flow rate. The method further includes stamping and quenching the heated blank at a constant rate to a temperature between a martensite finish temperature of the steel alloy defining the steel alloy blank and room temperature to form the press-hardened steel component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Northeastern University
    Inventors: Zhisong Chai, Tingdong Ren, Jinlong Zhu, Wei Xu, Jianfeng Wang
  • Patent number: 11912300
    Abstract: Systems and methods to perform behavioral planning in an autonomous vehicle from a reference state involve generating a set of actions of a fixed size and fixed order according to a predefined methodology. Each action is a semantic instruction for a next motion of the vehicle. A set of trajectories is generated from the set of actions as an instruction indicating a path and a velocity profile to generate steering angles and accelerations for implementation by the vehicle. A trajectory filter is applied to filter the set of trajectories such that unfiltered trajectories are candidate trajectories. Applying the trajectory filter includes assessing the path and velocity profile indicated by each of the set of trajectories. A selected trajectory is used to control the vehicle or the action that corresponds to the selected trajectory is used in trajectory planning to generate a final trajectory that is used to control the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Roi Reshef
  • Patent number: 11914367
    Abstract: Sun-aware routing and controls of an autonomous vehicle is described herein. A location and an orientation of a sensor system is identified within an environment of the autonomous vehicle to determine whether the sun causes a threshold level of perception degradation to the sensor system incident to generating a sensor signal indicative of a traffic light. The determination is based upon perception degradation data that can be precomputed for locations and orientations within the environment for dates and times of day. The perception degradation data is based upon the location of at least one traffic light and positions of the sun relative to the locations and the orientations within the environment. A mechanical system of the autonomous vehicle is controlled to execute a maneuver that reduces perception degradation to the sensor system when the perception degradation is determined to exceed the threshold level of perception degradation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Clement Creusot
  • Patent number: 11912547
    Abstract: A system includes a platform to support a vehicle on a first side of the platform and a passive motion device arranged on a second side of the platform, opposite the first side, to move upon actuation. A mechanical actuator actuates the passive motion device based on movement of one or more wheels of the vehicle to change a position of the vehicle. The position of the vehicle relative to the platform is unchanged and the passive motion device is actuated by only the movement of the one or more wheels of the vehicle to change the position of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: James W. Wells, Michael R. Kaphengst, Alfred Manser, Barry L. Farmer, Seog-Chan Oh
  • Patent number: 11913798
    Abstract: A system for optimizing charging for a vehicle having a rechargeable energy storage unit and travelling on a route includes a controller. The controller has a processor and tangible, non-transitory memory on which instructions are recorded. Execution of the instructions by the processor causes the controller to obtain details of the route, including surveying local charging infrastructure to determine availability of one or more charging stations within a predefined radius of the route. The controller is adapted to obtain respective station parameters pertaining to the one or more charging stations. Based on user input, at least one session goal is selected from a predefined set of goals. The controller is adapted to generate a recommended charging profile respectively for one or more stops along the route, based in part on the session goal and the respective station parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Brian Trimboli, Matthew A. Thomas
  • Patent number: 11913401
    Abstract: An engine consumes fuel and air to generate an exhaust gas stream. An exhaust system channels the exhaust gas stream from the engine to a tailpipe. An aftertreatment system is included in the exhaust system and includes a catalyst. An exhaust throttle valve is disposed in the exhaust system downstream from the aftertreatment system. An actuator controls an amount of air pumped through the engine. A controller operates the exhaust throttle valve and/or the actuator to control emissions from the exhaust system during a cold start and following a deceleration fuel cutoff event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Chengke Liu, Vijay A Ramappan, Rafat F Hattar, Jeffrey M Kaiser, Joseph Shelton
  • Patent number: 11915395
    Abstract: A holographic display system provides a maximum intensity value of an intermediate image to decrease a graphics speckle noise. The system includes an SLM having a display with a hologram generating unit and a plurality of pixels for modulating a beam of coherent light. The system further includes a beam splitter for splitting the beam into an object beam and an intermediate image beam that is associated with an intermediate image having the noise. The system further includes a camera for capturing the intermediate image, in response to the camera receiving the intermediate image beam. The system further includes a computer having a processor and a CRM. The processor is programmed to generate an actuation signal associated with a corrective holographic phase shift to decrease the noise. The SLM modifies in real-time a holographic phase of the beam per pixel, in response to the SLM receiving the actuation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Manoj Sharma, Kai-Han Chang, Thomas A. Seder
  • Patent number: 11916414
    Abstract: A protection system for a battery system includes a battery control module configured to selectively open at least one contactor to isolate the battery system from a load in response to a sensed current being greater than a first threshold and within a first current range, at least one fuse connected between first and second terminals of the battery system and configured to open to isolate the battery system from the load in response to the sensed current being greater than a second threshold and within a second current range that is greater than and offset from the first current range, and an auxiliary protection module configured to selectively form a short circuit between first and second terminals in response to the sensed current being greater than the first threshold, less than the second threshold, and within a coverage gap region between the first and second current ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Venkata Prasad Atluri, Suresh Gopalakrishnan, Mark Daniel Gottlieb, Madhusudan Raghavan, Chandra S. Namuduri
  • Patent number: 11916201
    Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to motion-generating particles for desulfation of lead-acid batteries, lead-acid batteries including such motion-generating particles, and methods of making and using the same. For example, the present disclosure provides a lead-acid battery including one or more electroactive plates disposed within a casing; an electrolyte disposed within the casing and surrounding the electroactive plates; a plurality of ferromagnetic particles disposed with the electrolyte within the casing; and one or more electromagnets. The one or more electromagnets may be configured to direct a magnetic field towards the electrolyte to selectively cause movement of the plurality of ferromagnetic particles so as to agitate the electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Dorel M. Sala, Mahmoud Abd Elhamid, Dave G. Rich
  • Patent number: 11912298
    Abstract: An event scheduling system for collecting image data related to one or more events by one or more autonomous vehicles includes a centralized scheduling system in wireless communication with one or more autonomous vehicles. Each autonomous vehicle collects the image data related to the one or more events while following a unique travel schedule. The centralized scheduling system executes instructions to determine the unique travel schedule for a specific autonomous vehicle, where the unique travel schedule directs the specific autonomous vehicle to the specific location of the filtered event to collect the image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Chuan Li, Donald K. Grimm, Fan Bai
  • Patent number: 11916338
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a pair of electrical connectors for electrically connecting to one another to close an electric circuit. The assembly further includes a connection indicator attached to one or more of the electrical connectors. The connection indicator generates a feedback, in response to the electrical connectors being one of connected to one another and disconnected from one another. The connection indicator is separate from the electric circuit, and the feedback is at least one of a radio frequency signal (RF signal), an electronic signal, a visible light, and an acoustic signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Xiang Zhao, Dalong Gao, Jinglin Li
  • Patent number: 11912346
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a chassis, a passenger compartment supported by the chassis, and a box supported by the chassis spaced from the passenger compartment. The box including a lower bed fixedly mounted to the chassis, an upper bed, and a tail gate pivotally connected to the upper bed. Each of the upper bed, and the tail gate is shiftable relative to the lower bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Anthony Bernal, Orlando Espana
  • Patent number: 11912146
    Abstract: A battery charging system includes: an electric motor including stator coils; a battery; a charge port configured to receive power from charging stations by wire; first and second electrical conductors connected between the battery and the charge port; an inverter module including (a) inputs connected to receive power from the battery and (b) outputs connected to the electric motor; a third electrical conductor; and a switch configured to electrically connect and disconnect a first end of the third electrical conductor to and from the first electrical conductor, where the third electrical conductor includes a second end that is connected to at least one of the stator coils via one of the outputs of the inverter module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Rashmi Prasad, Chandra S. Namuduri
  • Patent number: 11912311
    Abstract: A system and method of detecting and mitigating an erratic vehicle by a host vehicle. The method includes gathering sensor information on a calibratable external region surrounding the host vehicle; analyzing the sensor information to detect a target vehicle traveling in a lane and a movement of the target vehicle in the lane; determining whether the movement of the target vehicle in the lane is erratic; if erratic then designating target vehicle as erratic vehicle; assigning a risk score to the erratic vehicle; and implementing a predetermined mitigating action correlating to the assigned risk score to the erratic vehicle. The mitigating action includes one or more of: warning an operator of the host vehicle, warning a vehicle proximal to the host vehicle, and taking at least partial control of the host vehicle to further distance the host vehicle apart from the erratic vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Gabriel Tayoung Choi, Paul A. Adam, Namal P. Kumara, Christopher Michael Churay
  • Patent number: 11912209
    Abstract: A removable panel retainer includes a flexible substrate having a surface defining a first axis. A clip member is moveably mounted to the flexible substrate in a direction substantially parallel to the first axis. A release member is moveably mounted relative to the flexible substrate along a second axis that is distinct from the first axis. Shifting the release member towards the flexible substrate releases the clip member to shift along the first axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Jason Zink, Mark A. Ruttle
  • Patent number: 11912184
    Abstract: A vehicle seat including a seatback, and headrest including a shell member. A release mechanism is mounted to the shell member. The release mechanism selectively locks the headrest relative to the seatback. An actuator system extends between the seatback and the headrest. The actuator system includes a sleeve having a first end fixedly connected relative to the seatback, a second end fixedly connected relative to the headrest shell, and an intermediate portion defining a longitudinal length of the sleeve, and a cable extending through the sleeve. The cable has a first end section arranged in the seatback and a second end section coupled to the release mechanism. The longitudinal length of the sleeve includes a first dimension when the seatback is in an upright position and the longitudinal length has a second, longer dimension, when the seatback is in a folded configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Edeena Alicia Reader
  • Patent number: 11912080
    Abstract: A hitch system for automatically coupling a hitch accessory that has an attachment bar assembly with a hitch receiver. The attachment bar assembly includes a housing bar that is tubular, with a pin-hole through the housing bar. A pin-lever is pivotably mounted in the housing bar and includes a pin configured to retract into the housing bar and to extend out of the pin-hole. A ramp-component is disposed in the housing bar and is engageable with the pin-lever. An actuator selectively moves the ramp-component to retract the pin into the housing bar and to extend the pin out of the housing bar, by selectively enabling pivoting of the pin-lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Amanda Kalhous, Norman J Weigert, Radu D. Sotir
  • Patent number: 11912546
    Abstract: An inflatable structure includes a top end cap, a bottom end cap, a bladder attached to the top and bottom end caps and configured to hold pressurized air, a plurality of tethers disposed within the bladder, the inflatable structure moveable between a stowed profile and a final support profile, wherein the bladder is pressurized and expanded axially and the plurality of tethers are fully extended and restrict further movement of the top end cap and the bottom end cap away from one another and limit axial expansion of the bladder, a pulley assembly mounted within the bottom end cap, wherein in the stowed support profile, the plurality of tethers are wound onto the pulley assembly, the pulley assembly adapted to allow selective extension of the tethers allowing axial expansion of the bladder, wherein, the inflatable structure is adapted to provide multiple intermediary support profiles capable of supporting compressive loading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Wonhee Michael Kim, Paul W. Alexander, Yun Ju Kim, Diann Brei, Koray Benli, Jonathan E. Luntz, Laura Alejandra Giner Munoz
  • Patent number: 11912273
    Abstract: Various technologies described herein pertain to controlling an autonomous vehicle to provide indicators to distinguish the autonomous vehicle from other autonomous vehicles in a fleet. The autonomous vehicle includes a vehicle propulsion system, a braking system, a notification system, and a computing system. The notification system outputs an indicator that is perceivable external to the autonomous vehicle. The computing system receives data specifying an identity of a passenger to be picked up by the autonomous vehicle. Moreover, the computing system controls at least one of the vehicle propulsion system or the braking system to stop the autonomous vehicle for passenger pickup. Further, the computing system controls the notification system to output the indicator; a characteristic of the indicator outputted by the notification system is controlled based on the identity of the passenger to be picked up and whether the autonomous vehicle is stopped for passenger pickup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Stephanie Olivia Engle, Kyle Vogt, Eric Lujan
  • Patent number: 11915427
    Abstract: An autonomous vehicle is described herein. The autonomous vehicle generates segmentation scenes based upon lidar data generated by a lidar sensor system of the autonomous vehicle. The lidar data includes points indicative of positions of objects in a driving environment of the autonomous vehicle. The segmentation scenes comprise regions that are indicative of the objects in the driving environment. The autonomous vehicle generates scores for each segmentation scene based upon characteristics of each segmentation scenes and selects a segmentation scene based upon the scores. The autonomous vehicle then operates based upon the segmentation scene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Andrea Allais, Micah Christopher Chambers
  • Patent number: 11915584
    Abstract: Systems and method are provided for notifying an operator of a vehicle of reverse operation of a vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving, by a processor, at least one of sensor data and vehicle message data, wherein the sensor data is generated by a sensor of an infrastructure system, and wherein the vehicle message data is generated by a remote vehicle; determining, by the processor, a reverse operation of the remote vehicle based on the at least one of the sensor data and the vehicle message data; and generating, by the processor, notification data based on the reverse operation of the remote vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Vivek Vijaya Kumar, Mohammad Naserian, Hariharan Krishnan
  • Patent number: 11916251
    Abstract: A multi-cell rechargeable energy storage system (RESS) includes a plurality of battery cells organized into battery modules and a first enclosure configured to house the battery modules. The RESS also includes a first vent arranged on the first enclosure and configured to direct air from inside the first enclosure to an environment external to the first enclosure. The RESS additionally includes a second vent arranged on the first enclosure and configured to direct air into the first enclosure from the environment external to the first enclosure. The RESS further includes a phase-change material (PCM) device arranged on the second vent and configured to melt in response to at least one of the battery modules experiencing a thermal runaway event. In combination with the first vent, the PCM generates crossflow ventilation through the first enclosure to cool the battery modules therein and mitigate thermal runaway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin G. Wroblewski, Jordan Mullins, Brian Carrier
  • Patent number: 11916436
    Abstract: An electric machine includes a housing, a rotor rotatably mounted to the housing, and a stator mounted to the housing about the rotor. The stator includes a stator body formed from a plurality of laminations. The plurality of laminations include an outer annular surface defining a radius, an inner annular surface spaced from the rotor, and a plurality of radially inwardly extending stator teeth spaced one from another by plurality of gaps. Each of the plurality of gaps extend along the radius and include an opening exposed at the inner annular surface. The opening has a first side portion and a second side portion each extending at an angle relative to the radius.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Alireza Fatemi, Mohammad F. Momen, Thomas W. Nehl