Patents Assigned to GM Global Technologies Operations LLC
  • Patent number: 10688899
    Abstract: An occupant support structure and a method of customizing an occupant support structure. The occupant support structure may comprise a base and a reconfigurable cushion carried by the base. The reconfigurable cushion may include an occupant support surface and a bladder. The bladder may include an outer wall that defines an inner cavity underlying the occupant support surface and two or more overlapping material layers disposed within the cavity. The overlapping material layers may be adapted to selectively transition from a compliant state to a rigid state and vice versa by selective control of a pressure condition across the outer wall of the bladder to reconfigure or conform the occupant support surface of the cushion to a contour of a portion of an occupant supported by the cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Wonhee M. Kim, Amberlee S. Haselhuhn, Richard J. Skurkis, Michael J. Walker, Ian J. Sutherland, Paul W. Alexander, Nilesh D. Mankame
  • Patent number: 10690210
    Abstract: A mount assembly for a vehicle includes a housing having an upper mounting portion coupled to a first area of the vehicle and a lower mounting portion coupled to a second area of the vehicle. A dampening arrangement is disposed between the upper mounting portion and lower mounting portion. The dampening arrangement may include one or more biasing layers and one or more springs cooperating with the upper mounting portion and lower mounting portion. One or more relatively high viscoelastic layers are disposed adjacent to and cooperate with the one or more biasing layers. One or more relatively low viscoelastic layers are disposed adjacent and cooperate with the one or more relatively high viscoelastic layers. The one or more biasing layers, one or more relatively high viscoelastic layers, one or more relatively low viscoelastic layers and optional springs are configured to dissipate axial forces acting on the mount assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Francesco Germano
  • Publication number: 20200194901
    Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) antenna array for an RF printed circuit board (RF-PCB) having a PCB ground layer includes an interposer assembly, conductive pillars, and load element. The interposer assembly includes a substrate, a ground layer defining one or more apertures, a dielectric layer, and a microstrip trace. The substrate is spaced apart from the RF-PCB. The interposer ground layer is deposited onto the substrate. The dielectric layer is deposited onto the interposer ground layer. The microstrip trace, positioned on the dielectric layer, receives and directs incident RF energy along the longitudinal axis. The pillars electrically connect the ground layers and structurally support the substrate, such that RF energy along the trace couples to the upper surface of the interposer assembly through the aperture(s). The load element connects in series to the microstrip trace at a distal/terminal end of the array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Jonathan J. Lynch
  • Publication number: 20200191902
    Abstract: A radar system with frequency conversion includes a signal generator configured to generate an input signal at a first frequency. A transmitting interposer is configured to receive the input signal from the signal generator. The transmitting interposer includes a transmitting front-end module configured to upconvert the input signal at the first frequency to an outgoing radar signal at a second frequency greater than the first frequency, and a transmitting antenna module having a plurality of transmitting patches configured to radiate the outgoing radar signal. A receiving interposer is configured to transmit an output signal to the signal generator. The receiving interposer includes a receiving antenna module having a plurality of receiving patches configured to capture an incoming radar signal at the second frequency, and a receiving front-end module configured to downconvert the incoming radar signal at the second frequency to the output signal at the first frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Florian G. Herrault, Hasan Sharifi, Robert G. Nagele, Igal Bilik
  • Publication number: 20200189352
    Abstract: A vehicle a sensor system disposed adjacent to a headrest portion of a seat within a passenger compartment of the vehicle. The sensor system includes at least one of an air velocity sensor, an air temperature sensor, a radiant heat flux sensor, a heat flux sensor, or a humidity sensor. The sensor system is positioned near the headrest, facing a forward end of the vehicle, in a position that is not blocked by a head of a passenger seated in the seat. The sensor system provides data related to the air velocity, the air temperature, the radiant heat flux, the heat flux, or the relative humidity, enabling a climate controller to accurately calculate a current Equivalent Homogenous Temperature (EHT) of a passenger seated in the seat. The climate controller may then control a climate system of the vehicle based on the calculated EHT to provide a desired EHT.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Taeyoung Han, Shailendra Kaushik, Bahram Khalighi, Paul E. Krajewski
  • Publication number: 20200190869
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a hood panel configured to cover the vehicle's under-hood compartment. The vehicle also includes a mechanism for selectively fastening the hood panel to the vehicle body and maintaining the compartment's closure in a first position and maintaining the hood panel within a predetermined distance from the vehicle body in a second position. The vehicle additionally includes a release system for releasing the hood from the first to the second position via the mechanism. The release system includes a sensor arrangement for detecting the presence of a vulnerable object in the vehicle path, and a controller for ascertaining whether the vehicle is in motion. The controller is also configured to trigger the mechanism, in response to a signal from the sensor arrangement indicative of the detected presence of the object, to release the hood panel from the first to the second position when the vehicle is in motion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Rathan H. P, Vivekananda Kinila
  • Publication number: 20200195071
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices including a rotor body including a curable material are described. The rotor body includes a plurality of ferromagnetic components arranged about an axis defining a circular periphery distal to the axis and a plurality of flux barriers. The plurality of ferromagnetic components define a plurality of channels arranged circumferentially about the axis. Each of the plurality of flux barriers includes a curable filler occupying a respective one of the plurality of channels. The curable filler is configured to maintain radial spacing of the plurality of ferromagnetic components and optimize mechanical stress across the rotor body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Alireza Fatemi, Anthony M. Coppola, Thomas W. Nehl
  • Publication number: 20200184742
    Abstract: A method of root cause diagnosis of fault data from a vehicle includes identifying a first vehicle fault and selecting from field repair data a vehicle feature corresponding to the identified first vehicle fault. The method also includes identifying from the field repair data an effective repair of the identified first vehicle fault. The method additionally includes training and testing via a machine learning algorithm, a labor code classifier using the identified effective repair of the first vehicle fault and the selected vehicle feature corresponding to the identified first vehicle fault. The method also includes identifying and classifying, using the trained classifier, indistinguishable labor codes. Furthermore, the method includes communicating the identified and classified indistinguishable labor codes for diagnosing a root cause of real time first vehicle fault data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Shengbing Jiang, Chaitanya Sankavaram, David A. Frank, Brian L. Buck, Janelle Kane Rolando
  • Publication number: 20200180543
    Abstract: An inflatable blanket for a vehicle includes a first blanket layer, a second blanket layer coupled to the first blanket layer, and an airbag disposed between the first blanket layer and the second blanket layer. The airbag has a deflated configuration and an inflated configuration to protect a vehicle occupant when the vehicle is subjected to an external force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Chin-Hsu Lin, Louis D. Thole, Mark O. Neal, David Acosta
  • Publication number: 20200185792
    Abstract: An electrical system includes a battery pack, sensors, and a controller. The sensors configured output measured state signals indicative of an actual state of the battery back, including a respective actual voltage, current, and temperature of each of the multiple battery cells. The controller executes a method to generate, responsive to the measured state signals, an estimated state of the multiple battery cells using a respective open-circuit voltage and low-frequency transient voltage of each of the multiple battery cells. The controller estimates the low-frequency transient voltages using a porous electrode transient (PET) model as part of a model set, the PET model having open-circuit voltage elements representing uneven charge distribution within a cell electrode. State of charge (SOC) of the battery pack is estimated using the estimated voltages. An operating state of the electrical system is controlled in real-time responsive to the estimated SOC.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Charles W. Wampler, II, Daniel R. Baker
  • Publication number: 20200180596
    Abstract: A hybrid electric powertrain system includes a transmission, engine, e-accessory, primary and secondary electric machines, and controller. The e-accessory is powered by the secondary electric machine in response to an accessory torque demand. The engine and primary electric machine are connected to the transmission and configured, alone or in combination, to provide input drive torque to the transmission. The secondary electric machine is connected to the e-accessory and satisfies the accessory torque demand. A first clutch between the secondary electric machine and a transmission input member connects the secondary electric machine to the input member. The controller, in response to an output torque request, executes a power-sharing strategy using an objective cost function that allocates engine torque, primary motor torque, and secondary motor torque to the input member to satisfy the output torque request, while satisfying the accessory torque demand via the secondary electric machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Norman K. Bucknor, Madhusudan Raghavan
  • Publication number: 20200185982
    Abstract: A stator for an electromagnetic machine includes a first lamination stack defining a first cavity therein and having a central longitudinal axis. The first lamination stack includes a first plurality of mounting ears disposed opposite the first cavity and each spaced apart from one another about the central longitudinal axis. The stator further includes a second lamination stack abutting the first lamination stack and defining a second cavity therein aligned with the first cavity along the central longitudinal axis. The second lamination stack includes a second plurality of mounting ears disposed opposite the second cavity and each spaced apart from the first plurality of mounting ears and from one another about the central longitudinal axis. An electromagnetic machine including the stator and a device including the electromagnetic machine are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Pavan Kumar Patruni, Song He, Edward L. Kaiser, Mithun Sunny
  • Publication number: 20200180466
    Abstract: System and method of controlling operation of a device having a rechargeable energy storage pack with a plurality of cells, based on propulsion loss assessment. A controller is configured to obtain a state of charge data and an open circuit voltage of the rechargeable energy storage pack. The controller is configured to obtain a state of charge disparity factor (dSOC) from a selected dataset. The state of charge disparity factor (dSOC) is defined as a difference between a minimum value of the state of charge and an average value of the state of charge of the plurality of cells. The controller is configured to control operation of the device based in part on the state of charge disparity factor (dSOC) and a plurality of parameters (Pi), including raising one or more of a plurality of flags each transmitting respective information to a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Azeem Sarwar, Xiangxing Lu, Ciro Spigno, Ryan B. Moulliet, Jeffrey S. Piasecki, Andrew J. Cornelli, Charles W. Wampler, II, Brian J. Koch, Margaux LeBlanc, Gus Hatoum
  • Publication number: 20200182937
    Abstract: An electrical system includes a battery, sensors, and a controller. The sensors output measured signals indicative of an actual state of the battery, including respective actual voltage, current, and temperature signals for each battery cell. The controller, in conducting a method, generates an estimated state of the battery, including a predicted voltage of the battery, doing so responsive to the signals using an open-circuit voltage and an output of an empirical model. An operating state of the electrical system is controlled using the estimated state. The empirical model includes low-pass/band-pass filters and a high-pass filter each with a different time-constant, the time-constants being spread over a time-constant range. Each low-pass/band-pass filter branches through a basis function(s) whose output(s) are multiplied by a respective resistance value to generate higher-frequency voltage transients. The controller sums the open-circuit voltage and voltage transients to derive the predicted voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Charles W. Wampler, II
  • Publication number: 20200182333
    Abstract: A hybrid powertrain includes an internal combustion engine and a multi-speed transmission coupled to the internal combustion engine. The multi-speed transmission includes an input member, an output member, and a first, second, third, fourth, and fifth planetary gear set each having a sun gear member, a planet carrier assembly member and a ring gear member. The multi-speed transmission further includes a first, second, third, fourth, and fifth planetary gear sets each having a sun gear member, a planet carrier assembly member and a ring gear member. The multi-speed transmission further includes seven torque-transmitting devices configured to selectively interconnect the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth planetary gear sets with one another in combinations of at least four to establish at least ten forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio between the input member and the output member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Edward W. Mellet, Alan G. Holmes
  • Patent number: 10678247
    Abstract: An autonomic vehicle control system includes a perception module of a spatial monitoring system that is disposed to monitor a spatial environment proximal to the autonomous vehicle. A method for evaluating vehicle dynamics operation includes determining a desired trajectory for the autonomous vehicle, wherein the desired trajectory includes desired vehicle positions including an x-position, a y-position and a heading. Vehicle control commands are determined based upon the desired trajectory, and include a commanded steering angle, an acceleration command and a braking command. Actual vehicle states responsive to the vehicle control commands are determined. An estimated trajectory is determined based upon the actual vehicle states, and a trajectory error is determined based upon a difference between the desired trajectory and the estimated trajectory. The trajectory error is monitored over a time horizon, and a first state of health (SOH) is determined based upon the trajectory error over the time horizon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Shengbing Jiang, Mutasim A. Salman, Yilu Zhang, Shuqing Zeng
  • Patent number: 10680297
    Abstract: A lithium-ion pouch battery cell includes a plurality of electrodes stacked together to form an electrode stack. Each of the electrodes includes a main electrode layer and an electrode tab protruding from the main electrode layer. The electrode stack has a tab surface area, and the main electrode layer has a main surface area. The lithium-ion pouch battery cell further includes a heat-rejecting lead tab coupled to the plurality of electrodes. The heat-rejecting lead tab covers the tab surface area of the electrode tab and the main surface area of the main electrode layer to facilitate heat transfer from the electrode stack to the heat-rejecting lead tab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Robert J. Schoenherr
  • Patent number: 10677619
    Abstract: A method of monitoring a position sensor includes calculating an absolute value of a sine signal and an absolute value of a cosine signal from the position sensor. At least one of the absolute value of the sine signal and the absolute value of the cosine signal is compared to a minimum threshold to determine if the at least one of the absolute value of the sine signal and the absolute value of the cosine signal is less than the minimum threshold, or if the at least one of the absolute value of the sine signal and the absolute value of the cosine signal is equal to or greater than the minimum threshold. A fault with the position sensor is indicated when the at least one of the absolute value of the sine signal and the absolute value of the cosine signal is less than the minimum threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: David S. Ochs, Rachel Hoener
  • Patent number: 10675701
    Abstract: A method of resistance spot welding a workpiece stack-up comprising overlapping first and second steel workpieces is disclosed, wherein at least one of the steel workpieces comprises an advanced high-strength steel substrate. The workpiece stack-up is positioned between a pair of opposed first and second welding electrodes. A cover is disposed between at least one of the first steel workpiece and the first welding electrode or the second steel workpiece and the second welding electrode at an intended weld site. The workpiece stack-up is clamped between the first and second welding electrodes at the weld site such that at least one of the weld faces of the first and second welding electrodes presses against the cover. The first and second steel workpieces are welded together by passing an electrical current between the first and second welding electrodes at the weld site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: David Yang, Wu Tao, Qi Lu, Blair E Carlson
  • Patent number: 10676079
    Abstract: A hybrid electric powertrain system includes a transmission, engine, e-accessory, primary and secondary electric machines, and controller. The e-accessory is powered by the secondary electric machine in response to an accessory torque demand. The engine and primary electric machine are connected to the transmission and configured, alone or in combination, to provide input drive torque to the transmission. The secondary electric machine is connected to the e-accessory and satisfies the accessory torque demand. A first clutch between the secondary electric machine and a transmission input member connects the secondary electric machine to the input member. The controller, in response to an output torque request, executes a power-sharing strategy using an objective cost function that allocates engine torque, primary motor torque, and secondary motor torque to the input member to satisfy the output torque request, while satisfying the accessory torque demand via the secondary electric machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Norman K. Bucknor, Madhusudan Raghavan