Patents Assigned to GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
  • Method For Thermal Management And Mitigation Of Thermal Propagation For Batteries Using A Graphene Coated Polymer Barrier Substrate
    Publication number: 20130108897
    Abstract: An automotive battery module with one or more battery cells and a heat exchange member placed in thermal communication with the battery cell. Heat generated within the battery cell by, among other things, electric current that can be used to provide motive power for the automobile may be removed by the heat exchange member that is made up of a flexible substrate and one or more graphene layers disposed on the substrate. The construction of the substrate and graphene layer is such that multiple heat transfer paths are established, each defining different levels of thermal conductivity and related transfer of heat away from the battery cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin R. Christian, Chih-Cheng Hsu
  • ONE-PIECE FIBER REINFORCEMENT FOR A REINFORCED POLYMER COMBINING ALIGNED AND RANDOM FIBER LAYERS
    Publication number: 20130108824
    Abstract: A one-piece fiber reinforcement for a reinforced polymer is described. In an embodiment, a one-piece reinforcement is fabricated by first assembling an interior randomly oriented fiber layer between two exterior aligned fiber layers. With all layers in face to face contact, a preselected number of fibers from the aligned layer is conveyed out of its aligned layer and threaded into at least the random fiber layer so that the conveyed fibers engage and mechanically and frictionally interfere with the random fibers. The fibers may be conveyed from one aligned layer to the other for yet greater interference. The interfering fibers serve to secure and interlock the layers together, producing a one-piece reinforcement which, when impregnated with a polymer precursor, shaped and cured may be incorporated in a polymer reinforced composite article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Elisabeth J. Berger, John N. Owens, Chen-Shih Wang, Hamid G. Kia
  • APPARATUS FOR REDUCING ENGINE TORQUE FLUCTUATIONS
    Publication number: 20130104693
    Abstract: An apparatus for reducing torque fluctuations of a combustion engine includes a crankshaft mounted in the engine, flywheel coupled to the crankshaft, and a first actuator and a second actuator coupled to the flywheel. The flywheel generates a counter torque to the torque generated by the engine during combustion, and the first and the second actuators are operated to adjust the magnitude and the phase of the counter torque generated by the flywheel to suppress fluctuations associated the engine torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Shushan Bai, Donald L. Dusenberry
  • USING A MANIFEST TO RECORD PRESENCE OF VALID SOFTWARE AND CALIBRATION
    Publication number: 20130111271
    Abstract: A system and method for verifying that operating software and calibration files are present and valid after a bootloader flashes the files into the memory on a vehicle ECU before allowing the operating software to execute. The ECU memory defines a memory segment for the operating software and the calibration files. A software manifest is provided in a memory slot before the operating software segment in the memory. Likewise, a calibration manifest is provided in a memory slot before the calibration segment in the ECU memory. After the software has been flashed into the ECU memory, a software flag is set in the software manifest memory slot and each time a calibration file is flashed, a calibration flag for the particular calibration file is set in the calibration manifest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Kevin M. Baltes, James T. Kurnik, Ronald J. Gaynier, Thomas M. Forest, Ansaf I. Alrabady
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GENERATING A WELDED ASSEMBLY
    Publication number: 20130105046
    Abstract: A method of generating a welded assembly includes providing a work-hardened steel component. The method also includes annealing a region on the work-hardened steel component to impart a local temper to the region such that formability of the region is increased. The method additionally includes forming a projection on the annealed region. Furthermore, the method includes clamping a panel against the projection and joining the panel and the work-hardened steel component at the projection via a welding apparatus to generate the welded assembly. A system for generating a welded assembly employing the disclosed method and a method of generating a reinforced assembly are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Blair E. Carlson, Mark T. Hall
  • REVERSIBLE BATTERY ASSEMBLY AND TOOLING FOR AUTOMATED HIGH VOLUME PRODUCTION
    Publication number: 20130104390
    Abstract: A battery module includes a plurality of battery cells arranged in a stack, each of the battery cells including a pair of spaced apart tabs extending therefrom, a rigid support plate coupled to at least one of the tabs, and a busbar coupled to at least one of the tabs of each of a pair of adjacent battery cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
  • GLUE PELLET SEPARATOR
    Publication number: 20130105367
    Abstract: A device for supplying glue pellets to a machine includes a screen for segregating pellets according to size, a passageway for carrying into the machine pellets that do not pass through the screen, and a container for containing glue pellets at a higher elevation than an elevation of the screen, and directing away from the machine pellets that pass through the screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Robert Burns
  • AUTOMATIC CRASH BATTERY DISCHARGE METHOD
    Publication number: 20130106362
    Abstract: A system and method for discharging a vehicle battery following a vehicle damaging event. The method includes determining that the vehicle has been involved in the vehicle damaging event and then discharging cells in the battery to a predetermined cell voltage based on the severity of the vehicle damaging event. The battery cells can be discharged by resistors that are already existing in the vehicle battery for cell balancing purposes, or by resistors that have been added for the cell discharge purposes. The voltage of the cells are monitored when they are being dissipated, and once the particular voltage of a cell has reached the desired voltage, then a switch is opened to disconnect the resistor from the cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Todd F. Mackintosh, Galen E. Ressler
  • METHOD TO REPLACE BOOTLOADER PUBLIC KEY
    Publication number: 20130111203
    Abstract: A system and method for writing a new or replacement public key to a bootloader stored in a memory segment in the memory of a vehicle ECU without having to rewrite the entire bootloader. The method includes defining a key table in the bootloader memory segment includes a number of vacant memory slots that are available to store replacement public keys if they are needed. The key table is a separate section of the bootloader memory segment so that the key table memory slots are not used by the bootloader code.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: KEVIN M. BALTES, THOMAS M. FOREST, MARK H. COSTIN, ANSAF I. ALRABADY
  • Electro-Mechanical Three-Way Dual Seat Valve
    Publication number: 20130105720
    Abstract: A three-way dual seat valve having a valve body including mutually spaced apart annular first and second valve seats. Reciprocally mounted with respect to the valve body is a valve stem which carries within the valve body an annular, dual-faced valve stem gate. Each gate face thereof is sealingly engageable with a respective valve seat in response to reciprocal movement of the valve stem.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Keith R. Kabel
  • RANGE ESTIMATION FOR A RECHARGEABLE ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM OF A VEHICLE
    Publication number: 20130110331
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and vehicles are provided that provide for estimating a range of a vehicle with a rechargeable energy storage system (RESS). A sensor unit is configured to measure one or more input values pertaining to the RESS. A processor is coupled to the sensor unit, and is configured to determine an amount of energy available from the RESS using the input values and to obtain a time of day. An estimate of the range for the vehicle is determined based on the time of day and the amount of energy available.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: CHRISTOPHER A. KINSER, TODD P. LINDEMANN
  • BINARY CLASSIFICATION OF ITEMS OF INTEREST IN A REPEATABLE PROCESS
    Publication number: 20130105556
    Abstract: A system includes host and learning machines in electrical communication with sensors positioned with respect to an item of interest, e.g., a weld, and memory. The host executes instructions from memory to predict a binary quality status of the item. The learning machine receives signals from the sensor(s), identifies candidate features, and extracts features from the candidates that are more predictive of the binary quality status relative to other candidate features. The learning machine maps the extracted features to a dimensional space that includes most of the items from a passing binary class and excludes all or most of the items from a failing binary class. The host also compares the received signals for a subsequent item of interest to the dimensional space to thereby predict, in real time, the binary quality status of the subsequent item of interest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
  • PERSONALIZED CHARGING MANAGEMENT FOR A VEHICLE
    Publication number: 20130110330
    Abstract: A configurable energy management system for recharging an electric vehicle. An in-vehicle renewable energy source generates electrical energy for recharging an in-vehicle energy storage device. The at least one off-vehicle renewable energy source provides electrical energy to the vehicle for recharging the in-vehicle energy storage device. A vehicle communication module transmits and receives data. An integration module integrates in-vehicle energy parameter data, in-vehicle renewable energy parameter data, off-vehicle renewable energy parameter data, user parameter data, and web-based data. A user interface device communicates user parameter data to the integration module. The user parameter data includes a prioritization of preferential parameters in re-charging the in-vehicle energy storage device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Venkata Prasad Atluri, Subhash B. Gullapalli
  • CYBER SECURITY IN AN AUTOMOTIVE NETWORK
    Publication number: 20130104231
    Abstract: Preventing spoofing in an automotive network includes monitoring, by electronic control unit, data packets on a bus in the automotive network. Upon determining, in response to the monitoring, that a data packet is from a source other than the electronic control unit, the preventing spoofing in the automotive network includes generating and transmitting a diagnostic message to at least one module in the automotive network over the bus, the diagnostic message instructing the at least one module to take no action on the data packet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
  • Highway Merge Assistant and Control
    Publication number: 20130099911
    Abstract: A vehicle merge control system includes a host communication system in a host vehicle for exchanging vehicle position and kinematics data with a remote communication system in at least one remote vehicle. A vehicle host processor determines respective positions and paths of travel of the at least one remote vehicle and the host vehicle. The host processor determines a time to intersect based on the positions and predicted paths of travel between the host vehicle and remote vehicle during a merging maneuver. A host vehicle is configured to transmit a host vehicle intention message from the host communication system to the remote communication system for negotiating a merging position between the host vehicle and the at least one remote vehicle. The host vehicle executes the merging maneuver using the negotiated merging position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Upali Priyantha Mudalige, Bakhtiar Brian Litkouhi
  • INTEGRATED CELL VOLTAGE SENSE LINE FUSING
    Publication number: 20130101869
    Abstract: Lithium-ion batteries, unlike other chemistries, may need the voltage of every cell monitored. This may employ a wiring harness or interconnect board that connects the leads of each cell to battery monitoring electronics. These leads can be protected from each other by one or more methods including physical segregation, insulation, and fusing. If a fuse is used it can be located as close as possible to the terminal of the cell. The fuse can be located inside the sealed compartment of the cell itself. The leads would be passed out of the cell in a second location allowing the use of alternative sense lead wiring harnesses or interconnect board designs that save on packaging cost and volume. By locating the fuse inside the cell, design and validation efforts involved in placing a fuse inline with the wiring harness are eliminated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Chris R. Farmer
  • EXHAUST SYSTEM FOR A COMBUSTION ENGINE
    Publication number: 20130098009
    Abstract: An exhaust system for a combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders, a cylinder head and an engine block is provided. The exhaust system comprises an exhaust manifold, which is integrated in the cylinder head, flow channels, and an exhaust pipe, which is connected to a head flange of the cylinder head. The flow channels each extend from one of the cylinders to a head flange. At least two of the flow channels, which are connected to cylinders that are not ignited in succession, are united within the cylinder head and form a common flow channel. At least one further flow channel, which is connected with a cylinder ignited in succession, is routed separately as far as to the head flange. The common flow channel is united with the further flow channel only in the exhaust pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
  • WAVE FIN BATTERY MODULE
    Publication number: 20130101881
    Abstract: A battery module includes two or more battery cells and a continuous wave fin disposed between the battery cells. The construction of the wave fin is generally one-piece such that fewer parts are needed to form the battery module. In a preferred form, the wave fin is made from a high thermal conductivity material to promote removal of heat generated by the batteries during their operation. Portions of the wave fin not in direct contact with the battery cells may be placed in direct contact with a heat sink to help remove excess heat from the module. Expansion units or related additional structure may be placed, along with the various battery cells, between the generally serpentine-shaped wave fin to provide uniformity in cell spacing. A method of making one or more battery modules is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Sami A. Syed, Robert J. Heydel, John G. Dorrough
  • VEHICLE GRILLE SHUTTER
    Publication number: 20130103265
    Abstract: A method of acknowledging a presence of an individual relative to a vehicle having a grille opening includes detecting that the vehicle is stationary. The method also includes sensing the presence of the individual relative to the vehicle. The method additionally includes setting an adjustable shutter in motion in response to the sensed presence of the individual when the vehicle is stationary. The shutter is arranged relative to the grille opening and is operable to selectively open and close the grille opening to present an appearance of a “wink”. A system using a controller configured to regulate the shutter and perform such a method is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: John C. Remy, David J. Verbrugge, Louis D. Thole, Scott P. Charnesky
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR HEATING A VEHICLE CABIN
    Publication number: 20130099012
    Abstract: A method of heating a cabin of a motor vehicle that includes an internal combustion engine operatively connected to an exhaust system having a catalyst, and a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system is provided. The method includes detecting a request to increase temperature inside the cabin, supplying fuel and air to the engine, and motoring the engine to pump the fuel and air into the exhaust system. The method also includes heating the catalyst to combust the fuel and air inside the catalyst such that a stream of post-combustion exhaust gas is generated. The method additionally includes channeling the generated stream of post-combustion exhaust gas to the HVAC system such that a temperature of a coolant circulated through the HVAC system is increased to heat the cabin. A system configured to perform the above method is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Bryan Nathaniel Roos, Eugene V. Gonze, Halim G. Santoso, Brian L. Spohn