Patents Represented by Attorney Miller IP Goup, PLC
  • Patent number: 7716938
    Abstract: A system and method for operating a cooling fluid pump and cooling fluid heater in a vehicle when the vehicle is not being used so that the temperature of the cooling fluid does not drop to low in a cold environment. The system includes an AC connector for plugging the system into an AC power outlet. The system also includes AC/DC converter that converts the AC power to a DC signal suitable to operate the pump. The system also includes a temperature switch that closes if the ambient temperature falls below a predetermined temperature, which electrically connects the AC connector to the AC/DC converter. When the AC/DC converter is powered, a switch is closed to connect the pump to a pulse width modulation (PWM) generator to operate the pump. Further, when the temperature switch is closed, power is provided to the heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Ellen Greifenstein, Wolfgang Haege, Dirk Wexel, Jurgen Thyroff