Patents Assigned to GM Global Technologies Operations, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8089690
    Abstract: The invention relates to a multistage fiber amplifier having a first amplifying fiber, at least one further amplifying fiber connected in series with the first amplifying fiber, a pump source, a first pump signal fed to the first amplifying fiber, and a further pump signal fed to the further amplifying fiber. The multistage fiber amplifier is distinguished by the fact that a further pump signal is fed to a further amplifying fiber via a power-dependent attenuation element. The attenuation element is formed in such a way that, as the pump power increases, small further pump signals are attenuated to a greater extent than large further pump signals. The power-dependent attenuation of the further pump signal that is fed to the further amplifying fiber and therefore the increased pump signal that is fed to the first amplifying fiber result in improvements in the noise figure of the multistage amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventor: Lutz Rapp
  • Publication number: 20110307250
    Abstract: A speech recognition system is provided. The speech recognition system includes a speech recognition module; a plurality of domain specific dialog manager modules that communicate with the speech recognition module to perform speech recognition; and a speech interface module that that communicates with the plurality of domain specific dialog manager modules to selectively enable the speech recognition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2010
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert D. Sims
  • Publication number: 20110258992
    Abstract: A method of diagnosing an ammonia slip catalyst device is provided. The method includes: computing a delta between a first temperature and a second temperature; evaluating the delta based on an efficiency threshold; and generating a fault notification based on the evaluating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Michael J. Paratore, JR.
  • Patent number: 7946781
    Abstract: An assembly for connecting a component having a base to a surface includes a fastener and a retainer having a clamp portion for capturing a shank of the fastener, and for aligning the fastener and an optional gasket with the base. The retainer automatically separates from the fastener when the fastener is tightened, and may include a recovery feature to allow recovery of the retainer after separation. A method for facilitating connection of a component and gasket to a surface includes inserting a threaded fastener into a base of the component, capturing the fastener within a clamp portion of a retainer, and positioning a surface of the retainer adjacent to the base. A tab portion of a gasket or the base can be inserted into a slot in the retainer to thereby secure the retainer to the base prior to connecting the component to the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Roman Mudel, Robert J. Moran, Thomas Richard Durkin, Iain J. Read
  • Publication number: 20110079193
    Abstract: An engine control system for a homogenous charge compression ignition (HCCI) engine includes a fuel injector temperature determination module and a fuel injector control module. The fuel injector temperature determination module determines a temperature of a tip of a fuel injector based on a first temperature model when the HCCI engine is operating in an HCCI combustion mode, and determines the temperature of the tip of the fuel injector based on a second temperature model when the HCCI engine is operating in a spark ignition (SI) combustion mode. The fuel injector control module controls a fuel injector pulse width based on the determined temperature and a predetermined temperature threshold, wherein the fuel injector pulse width increases when the determined temperature is greater than the predetermined temperature threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan T. Shibata, Vijay Ramappan, Andrew P. Bagnasco
  • Patent number: 7920969
    Abstract: A tracking system adapted for use with communicatively coupled traveling host and remote vehicles, includes a locator device configured to determine sets of current position, and trail coordinates for each of the vehicles. The preferred system further includes sensors operable to determine a condition value for each vehicle at each of said set of coordinates, and a controller configured to determine a congruent path between the vehicles, and a congruent path divergence by the host vehicle, and cause the transmission of an alert of the divergence from the host vehicle to the remote vehicle using vehicle-to-vehicle communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Upali Priyantha Mudalige, William E. Hamilton
  • Patent number: 7909026
    Abstract: The present invention provides a servo actuated operating mechanism for a coacting lobed rotor positive displacement supercharger combining a low cost and capacity electromagnetic clutch with a small oil pump internal to the supercharger unit. The oil pump supplies on demand oil pressure from oil in a hydraulic clutch housing or the supercharger timing gear case and acts as a servomechanism to actuate an internal hydraulic clutch. The hydraulic clutch can be engaged over a much wider range of speeds and loads than is possible with an electromagnetic clutch alone. The electro-hydraulic servomechanism provides improved highway fuel economy relative to an electromagnetic clutch as the engagement speed could be moved to a higher rotational speed (rpm). The internal hydraulic system makes higher supercharger engagement speeds possible with a hydraulic system, but without the assembly and leak issues associated with externally plumbed engine oil system actuated clutches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory P. Prior
  • Patent number: 7913242
    Abstract: A vehicle software installation, upgrade, and diagnostic system for use in vehicle assembly, upgrade, and repair, includes a portable memory device, such as a USB flash disk. The device receives diagnostic information via an open architecture communications port of a vehicle, such as a USB port. An external processor has a complimentary open architecture communications port and is adapted to receive and analyze the diagnostic information from the portable device. According to various aspects, analysis of the diagnostic information verifies successful installation and testing of vehicle software transferred from the portable device to vehicle processors, identifies software versions resident on the vehicle and related upgrade history for download and installation of an appropriate software upgrade, and/or diagnoses vehicle problems in accordance with sensed vehicle conditions and predetermined fault detection criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven W Holland
  • Publication number: 20110066338
    Abstract: An engine control system comprises a limit determination module and a torque control module. The limit determination module selectively varies a torque limit based on a steering angle. The torque control module selectively limits torque output by an engine to the torque limit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven J. Andrasko, Brent T. Deep, Scott M. Neher, Jason P. Hafer
  • Patent number: 7905538
    Abstract: A device for concealing a seam between a first surface and a second surface includes a moveable body fixedly attached to a selected one of the first surface and the second surface, wherein the moveable body is configured to transition between a first position and a second position to conceal and expose the seam, and an active material in operative communication with the moveable body, wherein the active material is configured to undergo a change in at least one property upon receipt of an activation signal, wherein the change in at least one property is effective to transition the moveable body from the first position to the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Ukpai I. Ukpai, Alan L. Browne, Mark A. Kramarczyk, Nancy L. Johnson, John C. Ulicny, Gary L. Jones
  • Patent number: 7908064
    Abstract: A preferred input torque for a hybrid powertrain is determined within a solution space of feasible input torques in accordance with a plurality of powertrain system constraints that results in a minimum overall powertrain system loss. System power losses and battery utilization costs are calculated at feasible input torques and a solution for the input torque corresponding to the minimum total powertrain system loss is converged upon to determine the preferred input torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: William R. Cawthorne, Anthony H. Heap, Gregory A. Hubbard
  • Patent number: 7900986
    Abstract: A concealment assembly includes a component, a member configured to have a first form and a second form, wherein the first form is configured to conceal the component and the second form is configured to expose the component, thereby making the component accessible for use, appearance, or function, and an active material in operable communication with the member, wherein the active material is configured to undergo a change in at least one property upon receipt of an activation signal, wherein the change in at least one property is effective to transition the member from the first form to the second form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan L. Browne, Nancy L. Johnson, Adrian B. Chernoff, Mark A. Kramarczyk, Ukpai I. Ukpai, John C. Ulicny, Gary L. Jones
  • Patent number: 7895917
    Abstract: A conformal grasp handle that molds itself to an applied load of an object, e.g., an end user's hands as they grip the conformal grasp handles. The conformal grasp handle retains the shape of the local deformation caused by the applied load until the handle is intentionally reshaped or the applied force of the object onto the handle is removed. As such, the grasp handles can advantageously be used to adapt to the individual user's anthropometric measurements, posture, hand position, and the like, among others. Suitable automotive applications include, but are not intended to be limited to, steering wheels, shift knobs, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: James T. Embach, John C. Ulicny
  • Patent number: D633838
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventor: Niels Loeb
  • Patent number: D636705
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventor: Malcolm Ward
  • Patent number: D636706
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventor: Malcolm Ward
  • Patent number: D637109
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventor: Uwe Müller
  • Patent number: D639710
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventor: Seung-woo Kim
  • Patent number: D642494
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventor: Niels Loeb
  • Patent number: D642496
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Boniface