Abstract: A method for controlling an inflatable airbag system in a motor vehicle having a seatbelt includes detecting a position of a vehicle occupant relative to an airbag suppression zone (ASZ). Electronic input signals are received from a sensor suite, including an occupant position signal and a seatbelt usage status signal. A restraint capacity setting of the airbag is adjusted in response to the electronic input signals such that corresponding restraint activation logic is executed by the controller based on whether the occupant is belted or unbelted. Different ASZs may be used for belted and unbelted occupants. A motor vehicle includes a vehicle body defining a vehicle interior, an airbag, a seatbelt, a sensor suite for detecting a position of an occupant relative to the ASZ, and a controller operable for controlling a restraint capacity setting and location of the ASZ in accordance with the method.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 14, 2022
Date of Patent:
March 11, 2025
Assignee:
GM Global Technology Operations LLC
Inventors:
Scott D. Thomas, Lisa M. Furton, Dorel M. Sala, George D. Allen, Sean T. Coughlin
Abstract: A torque converter management system includes a torque converter having a clutch and a torus. The torque converter management system includes memory hardware that stores instructions, that, when executed on data processing hardware of the system, cause the system to perform operations for protecting the torque converter. The operations include receiving torque converter temperature associated with the torque converter. The operations further include obtaining a torque converter protection schedule including one or more torque converter protective action initiation threshold temperatures each having an associated torque converter protective action and determining whether the torque converter temperature(s) exceeds a first one of the torque converter protective action initiation threshold temperatures.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 15, 2023
Date of Patent:
March 11, 2025
Assignee:
GM Global Technology Operations LLC
Inventors:
Andrew R. Scheich, Daniel P. Laurent, Peter Paul Radecki, Roberto Diaz, Shawn B. Look
Abstract: A cruise control algorithm including receiving a set speed and a minimum speed, generating a first control signal indicative of a first engine torque request, controlling a vehicle to maintain the set speed in response to the first engine torque request, detecting a vehicle pitch, detecting the vehicle speed, generating a second control signal indicative of the first engine torque request in response to the vehicle pitch being greater than zero degrees and the vehicle speed being greater than the minimum speed, controlling the vehicle to maintain a first engine torque in response to the first engine torque request, generating a third control signal indicative of a second engine torque request in response to the vehicle pitch being greater than zero degrees and the vehicle speed being less than the minimum speed, and controlling the vehicle to maintain the minimum speed in response to the third engine torque request.
Abstract: A vehicle and a drive system include a method of operating the vehicle. In another exemplary embodiment, a drive system of a vehicle is disclosed. The drive system includes a first sensor, a second sensor and a processor. The first sensor is disposed at a first location of the drive system for measuring a first angle of rotation. The second sensor is disposed at a second location of the drive system for measuring a second angle of rotation. The processor is configured to determine a torque transferred between the first location and the second location based on a difference between the first angle of rotation and the second angle of rotation and control an operation of the drive system based on the torque.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 13, 2023
Date of Patent:
March 11, 2025
Assignee:
GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Inventors:
Dongxu Li, Chunhao J. Lee, Farzad Samie, Paul Guillermo Otanez, Suresh Gopalakrishnan
Abstract: An anti-lag controlled ignition system includes an engine system including a turbocharger and an exhaust manifold fluidly coupled to the turbocharger. An electronic control unit (ECU) is communicatively coupled with the engine system and is configured to receive engine data from the engine system. A virtual optimization system is communicatively coupled with the ECU, and the virtual optimization system is configured to generate calibration tables in response to the engine data from the ECU. The ECU is configured to receive the generated calibration tables and is configured to reduce turbocharger lag via enthalpy calibrations for the exhaust manifold using one or more of the calibration tables.
Abstract: A battery system includes: a first positive terminal, a second positive terminal, and a negative terminal; at least two battery modules, each including switches and at least three strings of battery cells configured to, via the switches, at different times be: connected in series and to the first positive terminal; connected in parallel and to the second positive terminal; and disconnected from both of the first and second positive terminals; and a switch control module configured to, when a fault is diagnosed in one of the strings of one of the battery modules: at least one of: actuate the switches and isolate the one of the battery modules from the first and second positive terminals; and actuate the switches and isolate the one of the strings from the first and second positive terminals; and selectively actuate the switches of the remainder of the battery modules using model predictive control.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 22, 2022
Date of Patent:
March 11, 2025
Assignee:
GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Inventors:
Jun-mo Kang, Chen-Fang Chang, Dave G. Rich
Abstract: A system for directing projections within a vehicle includes a projector for producing a projected image. The system also includes a projection directing module in optical communication with the projector for directing the projected image to a predetermined location. The system also includes a projection surface upon which the projected image is projected. The system also includes a controller in electrical communication with the projector and the projection directing module. The controller is programmed to configure the projection directing module to direct the projected image to a projection region of the projection surface. The controller is further programmed to project the projected image on the projection region using the projector and the projection directing module.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 11, 2023
Date of Patent:
March 11, 2025
Assignee:
GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Inventors:
Manoj Sharma, Thomas A. Seder, Joseph F. Szczerba, John P. Weiss
Abstract: An exhaust system comprises an engine, a three-way catalytic converter including a first catalyst and a second catalyst, a tailpipe adjacent to the three-way catalytic converter, a first oxygen sensor disposed between the engine and the catalytic converter, a nitrogen oxides (NOx) sensor disposed in the three-way catalytic converter, and an engine control module (ECM) configured to obtain first oxygen sensor data from the first oxygen sensor, second oxygen sensor data from the NOx sensor, and NOx sensor data from the NOx sensor, the ECM being configured to perform catalyst health diagnostic operations and adjust one or more characteristics of the exhaust system based on at least the first oxygen sensor data, the second oxygen sensor data, and the NOx sensor data.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 20, 2023
Date of Patent:
March 11, 2025
Assignee:
GM Global Technology Operations LLC
Inventors:
Chengke Liu, Rafat F. Hattar, Janean Ellen Potter, Erika L Pruski
Abstract: A power control system for a vehicle includes a charge port and a contactor connected to the charge port and including a first plurality of switches. An energy storage system includes a second plurality of switches and one or more battery packs. A bi-directional DC-DC converter is connected between the energy storage system and a plurality of vehicle loads. A controller is configured to control states of the first and second plurality of switches to configure in a plurality of modes including a range improvement mode, a first charging mode to perform charging at a first voltage level, a second charging mode to perform charging at a second voltage level, a battery preconditioning mode; and an accessory load support mode.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 14, 2021
Date of Patent:
March 11, 2025
Assignee:
GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Inventors:
Lei Hao, Chandra S. Namuduri, Chengwu Duan, Suresh Gopalakrishnan, Neeraj S. Shidore, Venkata Prasad Atluri
Abstract: A system comprises a computer including a processor and a memory. The memory includes instructions such that the processor is programmed to receive, at a deep neural network, an image captured by an image capture device. The processor is also programmed to generate a predicted distortion map based on the image and update at least one weight of the deep neural network based on a loss function of the deep neural network.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 3, 2022
Date of Patent:
March 11, 2025
Assignee:
GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Inventors:
Manoj Sharma, Thomas A. Seder, Kai-Han Chang
Abstract: A disabled vehicle moving device configured to allow movement of a vehicle includes a sleeve made of a flexible material and configured to be mounted over a radially outer surface of a tire/wheel assembly of the vehicle that is locked for rotation. A cover is made of a flexible material and configured to be mounted over the sleeve and the tire/wheel assembly of the vehicle. A lubricant is arranged between the sleeve and the cover. The cover rotates relative to the sleeve and the tire/wheel assembly to allow the vehicle to be moved.
Abstract: Apparatus and techniques for analyzing a capacitance value in an electric motor inverter are disclosed. A processor is coupled to a DC-AC inverter, which includes a capacitor across its terminals and is powered by a battery. The processor performs resistor switching to enable singular, periodic measurement of the capacitance. The measured value is compared with a nominal or beginning of life (BOL) value. An alert may be sent if the capacitance has degraded beyond a threshold. In other aspects, the DC torque ripple envelop is used to measure capacitance. The outcome is compared with the other tests to assess consistency. An inconsistent outcome may identify potential resistor degradation.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 18, 2022
Date of Patent:
March 11, 2025
Assignee:
GM Global Technology Operations LLC
Inventors:
Muhammad H. Alvi, Khorshed Mohammed Alam, Jiyu Zhang, Chunhao J. Lee, Brian A. Welchko
Abstract: A monitoring system includes a vehicle processor stores battery capacity data of a battery of a vehicle and includes a navigation application configured to provide a location of the vehicle and a vehicle route. A user device includes a display and data processing hardware in communication with the display. The data processing hardware executes a monitoring application in communication with the vehicle processor and executes a weather application including predicted weather data. The data processing hardware is configured to receive the vehicle route and provide a notification on the display of the user device corresponding to an installation attribute of a service station along the vehicle route.
Type:
Application
Filed:
August 31, 2023
Publication date:
March 6, 2025
Applicant:
GM Global Technology Operations LLC
Inventors:
Daniel Pinheiro Carlesimo, Anthony Stadnyk, Aditya Singh