Patents Assigned to GM Global Technology Operation LLC
  • Method and apparatus to control a continuously variable transmission
    Patent number: 9765884
    Abstract: A powertrain system including an internal combustion engine rotatably coupled to a variator of a continuously variable transmission (CVT) is described. A method for controlling the CVT includes determining an actual speed ratio, a desired speed ratio and a commanded speed ratio. A total speed ratio change rate is determined based upon the actual speed ratio, the desired speed ratio and the commanded speed ratio, and a commanded speed ratio trajectory is determined based upon the desired speed ratio and the commanded speed ratio. A ratio change coefficient and a force ratio factor are determined based upon the commanded speed ratio trajectory, and a shift force is determined based upon the total speed ratio change rate and the ratio change coefficient. A primary pulley force and a secondary pulley force for the CVT are controlled based upon the shift force and the force ratio factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Zhen J. Zhang, Paul G. Otanez, Shushan Bai
  • Grounding bushing and a method of using the grounding bushing to provide a ground connection between a component and a vehicle body rail
    Patent number: 9768531
    Abstract: A method according to the present disclosure provides a ground connection between a first component and a vehicle body rail through a coating disposed on the vehicle body rail. The method includes inserting a grounding bushing into an aperture in a second component, positioning the second component between the first component and the vehicle body rail, placing the grounding bushing in contact with the first component, and inserting a fastener through the first component, through the grounding bushing, and into the vehicle body rail. The method further includes tightening the fastener to clamp the first component and the grounding bushing between a head of the fastener and the vehicle body rail and thereby cause the grounding bushing to pierce through the coating disposed on the vehicle body rail to provide the ground connection between the first component and the vehicle body rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Christopher A. Schlaupitz, Daniel F. Witting
  • Child/intruder detection alert through utilization of interior motion/sound sensors
    Patent number: 9764688
    Abstract: A number of illustrative variations may include a method of using vehicle sensors to produce an alert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: William A. Biondo, Julie A. Kleinert, Fred W. Huntzicker, Tricia E. Morrow
  • Electric bike optical shift detection and control
    Patent number: 9764796
    Abstract: A number of variations may include a cable movement detector for determining a movement of a cable. A light source may be directed at the cable. A light detector may receive a reflection of the light source from the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Steven L. Hayslett, Jeffrey W. Yambor
  • Aerodynamic mechanism configured to selectively generate downforce onto a vehicle
    Patent number: 9764615
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an aerodynamic mechanism for a vehicle including a body and a wheel. The aerodynamic mechanism includes a wing and a coupling assembly. The wing is configured to be arranged to intersect and airflow such that the airflow circulates about the wing and generates downforce. The coupling assembly is operatively connected to the wing and configured to be operatively connected to the body. The coupling assembly is configured to be selectively coupled to the wheel such that downforce generated by the wing is transmitted through the coupling assembly, directly to the wheel. The coupling assembly is configured to be selectively decoupled from the wheel such that downforce generated by the wing is transmitted through the coupling assembly, directly to the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Jeffrey A. Mosher
  • Determining performance criteria of a vehicle communication network connection
    Patent number: 9762470
    Abstract: A mobile vehicle communication system and a method carried out by the system to determine at a remotely-located vehicle a performance criteria of a communication network connection in the vehicle. Steps of the method include: monitoring the vehicle's communication network connection for at least one of a plurality of parameters, wherein the plurality of parameters are associated with the performance criteria of the network connection; correlating a performance status test indicative of the performance criteria of the network connection with at least one of the plurality of parameters; and determining the performance criteria of the network connection based on the correlation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Muhammad F. Alam, William R. Price
  • Method and apparatus for monitoring speed and position of a rotating member
    Patent number: 9759737
    Abstract: A first counter is incremented when a first rotational speed sensing device detects a falling edge of one of the teeth of a single multi-tooth target wheel, a second counter is incremented when a second rotational speed sensing device detects a falling edge of one of the teeth, and a third counter is incremented when either of the first and second rotational speed sensing devices detects either of a rising edge and a falling edge of one of the teeth. A direction of rotation is determined based upon the third counter and a rotational speed of the rotatable member is determined based upon one of the first and second counters. The rotatable member is indicated to be at zero speed when the rotational speed is less than a threshold speed and the direction of rotation changes between a positive direction and a negative direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Leah Dunbar, Yo Chan Son, Martin E. Rosalik, Jr., Justin O. Nielsen
  • Fuel ignition quality detection systems and methods
    Patent number: 9759142
    Abstract: An engine control system includes an engine calibration module that sets fuel injection timing based on one of N cetane number (CN) values, wherein N is an integer greater than one. A combustion noise module generates a combustion noise signal based on cylinder pressure in a compression ignition (CI) engine during combustion. A fuel quality determination module compares the combustion noise signal to N predetermined combustion noise levels corresponding to the N CN values, and that selects the one of the N CN values based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Chol-Bum M. Kweon, Frederic Anton Matekunas, Ibrahim Haskara, Yue-Yun Wang, Ognyan N. Yanakiev, Donald Terry French, Paul Anthony Battiston
  • Fuel cell durability by orthogonally oriented anisotropic external reinforce layers
    Patent number: 9761897
    Abstract: A fuel cell includes a proton exchange membrane having a first major side and a second major side. The membrane electrode assembly includes a first anisotropic reinforced layer having a first plurality of fiber preferentially oriented along a first direction, a second anisotropic reinforced layer having a second plurality of fiber preferentially oriented along a second direction, and a polymeric layer including a plurality of sulfonic acid groups. A cathode catalyst layer is disposed over the first major side of the proton exchange membrane while an anode catalyst layer is disposed over the second major side of the proton exchange membrane. An anode flow field plate is disposed over the anode catalyst layer and a cathode flow field plate is disposed over the cathode catalyst layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Ruichun Jiang, Matthew Dioguardi
  • Vehicle side mirror
    Patent number: D797537
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Stuart Cooper, Timothy P. Kozub
  • Vehicle body exterior
    Patent number: D797603
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Matthew J. Noone, Richard F. Scheer, Morio Ikeda, Eduardo H. Mine
  • Vehicle grille
    Patent number: D797614
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Hwasup Lee
  • Vehicle rear lower bumper
    Patent number: D797616
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Hwasup Lee
  • Vehicle front fender
    Patent number: D797624
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Luciano M. Nakamura
  • Vehicle front fender
    Patent number: D797625
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Jeffrey W. Perkins
  • Vehicle decklid
    Patent number: D797631
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Pevovar, Samuel Zhao, Jaymer Starbody
  • Vehicle liftgate
    Patent number: D797632
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Carl J. Zipfel, David Gillespie
  • Vehicle rear taillamp
    Patent number: D797967
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Adam H. Barry
  • Vehicle rear taillamp
    Patent number: D797971
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Marc A. Mainville
  • Vehicle rear taillamp
    Patent number: D797972
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Guy W. Whitla, Takahiko Suginoshita