Patents Assigned to GM Global Technology Operation LLC
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Patent number: 9757887Abstract: An injection mold assembly for injection molding an object includes a first mold tool having a first tool surface and a second mold tool having a second tool surface. The first and the second tool surfaces are cooperatively configured to define a mold cavity between the tool surfaces for an injection molding of an object. The first mold tool has a tool element with a first side that has the first tool surface, and with a second side opposite the first side. Multiple fins extend from the second side of the tool element. A base supports the fins. The tool element, the fins and the base define a coolant flow cavity at the second side of the tool element. A method of designing the mold assembly is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2015Date of Patent: September 12, 2017Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Jeffrey L. Konchan, Julien P. Mourou
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Patent number: 9757820Abstract: A fixture assembly for welding a plurality of stator wire end pairs may include an anvil, a movable clamp configured to translate between an unclamped state and a clamped state, a first grounding electrode, and a second grounding electrode. The movable clamp may be configured to urge the plurality of stator wire ends against the anvil when in the clamped state. The moveable clamp includes a separator feature that generally extends toward the anvil. Each of the first grounding electrode and second grounding electrodes may be configured to translate between a clamped state and an unclamped state. When in the clamped state, each of the first and second grounding electrodes is configured to urge a pair of the plurality of stator wire end pairs against the separator feature.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2012Date of Patent: September 12, 2017Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Urban J. De Souza, Frederick W. Rhoads, Justin Hanson
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Patent number: 9758171Abstract: A multi-mode powertrain system is described, and includes an internal combustion engine having stop/start capability. A method for controlling the multi-mode powertrain system includes circulating coolant to a heater core via an engine fluidic circuit that includes a water jacket of the internal combustion engine when temperature of the coolant is less than an engine fluidic circuit upper temperature threshold and the engine is in an ON state. Coolant is circulated to the heater core via a bypass fluidic circuit that excludes the water jacket of the internal combustion engine when temperature of the coolant is greater than a bypass fluidic circuit lower temperature threshold when the engine is in an OFF state.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2015Date of Patent: September 12, 2017Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Ryan D. Martini, Brett T. Muller, Eric Piper, James Kenney
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Patent number: 9762173Abstract: An inverter electrically connected to an electric machine is described. A method for controlling switching in the inverter includes determining a torque output of the electric machine and determining a temperature related to an inverter cooling circuit. A preferred inverter switch control mode for controlling the inverter is selected based upon the torque output of the electric machine and the temperature related to the inverter cooling circuit.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2015Date of Patent: September 12, 2017Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: David S Ochs, Brian A Welchko, Alexander K. Rustoni
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Patent number: 9761884Abstract: A method for making tungsten-alloy nanoparticles that are useful for fuel cell applications includes a step of combining a solvent system and a surfactant to form a first mixture. A tungsten precursor is introduced into the first mixture to form a tungsten precursor suspension. The tungsten precursor suspension is heated to form tungsten nanoparticles. The tungsten nanoparticles are combined with carbon particles to form carbon-nanoparticle composite particles. The carbon-nanoparticle composite particles are combined with a metal salt to form carbon-nanoparticle composite particles with adhered metal salt, the metal salt including a metal other than tungsten. The third solvent system is then removed. A two-stage heat treatment is applied to the carbon-nanoparticle composite particles with adhered metal salt to form carbon supported tungsten-alloy nanoparticles. A method for making carbon supported tungsten alloys by reducing a tungsten salt and a metal salt is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2014Date of Patent: September 12, 2017Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Mohammed Atwan, Anusorn Kongkanand, Michael K. Carpenter
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Patent number: 9758135Abstract: A ferritically nitrocarburized rotational member of a vehicle brake is disclosed, including a rotational member having a friction surface configured for braking engagement with a corresponding friction material. A compound zone is disposed at the friction surface. An exposed surface of the compound zone is exposed to an atmosphere. The area of the exposed surface includes from about 0 percent to about 14 percent graphite.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2014Date of Patent: September 12, 2017Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Michael D. Hanna, Michael L. Holly, Ronnie T. Brown, James A. Webster, Lisa G. Devoe, Donna Y. Sekulovski, Kee Hyuk Im
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Patent number: 9759177Abstract: A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a first burn duration module and a spark control module. The first burn duration module determines a first duration of at least a portion of a fuel burn within a cylinder of an engine from a first time when a first predetermined percentage of a mass of fuel within the cylinder is burned to a second time when a second predetermined percentage of the fuel mass is burned. The spark control module controls a spark plug to adjust spark timing of the cylinder based on the first burn duration.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2015Date of Patent: September 12, 2017Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Gary Robert Cygan, Jr., Chao F. Daniels, Ronald J. Herrin, Jason R. Bartak
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Patent number: 9751467Abstract: A barrier for separating a cargo area from a passenger area of a vehicle includes a support structure that is fixedly attached to a frame of a rear seat, adjacent a seatback of the seat. A gate is attached to and supported by the support structure, and is rotatably moveable relative to the support structure between a stowed position and a deployed position. A latch mechanism automatically secures the gate relative to the support structure when the gate is in the deployed position. A release system is coupled to the latch mechanism for moving the latch mechanism into a release position to allow the gate to rotate back into the stowed position.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2015Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventor: Taryn Dyle
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Patent number: 9751566Abstract: A vehicle includes a seat frame rail, a pair of spaced reaction surfaces and an energy management system. The energy management system includes a lateral bar and a spacer. The lateral bar extends along a bar axis, between a pair of ends. The lateral bar is disposed between the reaction surfaces, such that each end of the lateral bar is in facing relationship with a respective reaction surface and the spacer is operatively disposed between the lateral bar and the seat frame rail. The lateral bar is operable to be displaced toward the seat frame rail when compressed between the reaction surfaces, along the bar axis. The spacer is operable to react against the lateral bar and the seat frame rail to transfer loads therebetween, such that the displacement of the lateral bar is resisted by the seat frame rail.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2015Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Robert N. Saje, Arthur Wyszynski
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Patent number: 9753144Abstract: A system and method for correcting bias and angle misalignment errors in the angle rate and acceleration outputs from a 6-DOF IMU mounted to a vehicle. The method includes providing velocity and estimation attitude data in an inertial frame from, for example, a GNSS/INS, and determining an ideal acceleration estimation and an ideal rate estimation in a vehicle frame using the velocity and attitude data. The method then determines the IMU bias error and misalignment error using the ideal acceleration and rate estimations and the angle rate and acceleration outputs in an IMU body frame from the IMU.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2016Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Rouhollah Jafari, Shuqing Zeng
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Patent number: 9755462Abstract: An interior permanent magnet machine includes a wound stator, and a rotor core defining a plurality of pole cavities. Each of the pole cavities includes a cross section, perpendicular to a central axis of rotation, that defines a cross sectional shape having a centerline. The cross sectional shape of each of the pole cavities includes a radially inner barrier portion, a radially outer barrier portion, and a central portion. The centerline of the cross sectional shape of each of the radially outer barrier portion and the radially inner barrier portion, of each pole cavity, is defined by a generally arcuate segment. The centerline of the cross sectional shape of the central portion, of each pole cavity, is defined by a linear segment. One of a plurality of rare earth magnets, having no heavy rare earth elements, is disposed within the central portion of one of the plurality of pole cavities.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2015Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Sinisa Jurkovic, Khwaja M. Rahman
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Patent number: 9751287Abstract: A process for fabricating a curved beam including a micro-truss structure. In one embodiment, the process includes fabricating the micro-truss structure on a bottom facesheet, where the micro-truss structure is only partially cured so that it is readily bendable, and then forming the partially cured micro-truss structure and bottom facesheet over a curved fixture, where the partially cured micro-truss structure is then fully cured and hardened to its final curved state. A top facesheet is then adhered to a top surface of the micro-truss structure. In an alternate embodiment, a curved bottom facesheet is forced flat against a fixture and the micro-truss structure is formed while the bottom facesheet is secured to the fixture to a partially cured state. The bottom facesheet is then released from the fixture, which causes it to return to its curved configuration causing the micro-truss structure to bend.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2014Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Jacob M. Hundley, Nilesh D. Mankame, Eric C. Clough, Alan J. Jacobsen, Elisabeth J. Berger
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Patent number: 9755251Abstract: A system and method for processing the electric signals from a plurality of fuel cells in a fuel cell system is disclosed. Groups of the plurality of fuel cells, such as five bipolar plates, are electrically coupled to a conductive compressible connector or a circuit board, where some of the bipolar plates have a plate contactor for providing the electrical contact to either the conductive compressible connector or the circuit board. The system allows for the processing of the electric signals of every cell using fewer electrical components, thereby reducing the amount of space required and the costs associated therewith.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2015Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Jeffrey A. Rock, Jeff D. Williams
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Patent number: 9752542Abstract: A vehicle includes an air cleaner box assembly disposed within an engine compartment. The air cleaner box assembly includes a moveable shell portion and a stationary shell portion. The moveable shell portion includes an upper surface disposed adjacent a hood, and defines a filtered air chamber. The stationary shell portion is attached to a structure, and defines an unfiltered air chamber. A filter element is attached to and supported by the moveable shell portion. The filter element separates the filtered air chamber and the un-filtered air chamber. Each of a plurality of spring loaded guide members slideably connect the moveable shell portion and the stationary shell portion, and guide the moveable shell portion along a path relative to the stationary shell portion, between an expanded position and a compressed position.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2016Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Steven K. Mackenzie, Douglas L. Wickham, Steven R. Granke, Steven L. Williams, Brian R. Bauer
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Patent number: 9755244Abstract: A method for making corrosion resistant carbon nanoparticles includes a step of heating a carbon powder to a predetermined temperature. The carbon powder includes carbon particles having an average spatial dimension from about 10 to 100 nanometers. The carbon powder is contacted with a vapor of a metal-containing compound. The carbon powder is then contacted with a vapor of an activating compound. These steps are repeated plurality of times to form a metal-containing layer on the carbon particles.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2014Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Balasubramanian Lakshmanan, Jingxin Zhang
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Patent number: 9755677Abstract: A cellular radio architecture that includes a receiver module having a delta-sigma modulator that converts analog signals to digital signals and a Fast-Fourier transform (FFT) circuit that converts the digital signals to frequency spectrum signals. The architecture also includes a moving average circuit that smoothes out the frequency spectrum signals by applying a moving average to the signals. The architecture further includes a differentiator circuit that differentiates the frequency spectrum signals to make the signals linear, and a minimum finding circuit that converts the differentiated frequency spectrum signals into positive values for frequencies above a notch frequency in the differentiated signals and negative values for frequencies below the notch frequency in the differentiated signals.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2017Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Timothy J. Talty, Yen-Cheng Kuan, Cynthia D. Baringer, Mohiuddin Ahmed, James Chingwei Li, Hsuanyu Pan, Emilio A. Sovero
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Patent number: 9751380Abstract: An air vent assembly for use with a vehicle having a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system and a controller includes an air vent and an HVAC control head. The control head partially or fully surrounds the air vent and includes HVAC setting selection mechanisms. Activation of a respective one of the selection mechanisms causes a desired setting of the HVAC system to be communicated to the controller to request a particular control setting of the HVAC system. The control head may include a bezel adjacent to the selection mechanisms and display screens which flank the vent. The control head may be a touch screen device having a touch control surface, and may be operable for displaying the HVAC setting selection mechanisms via the touch control surface. A vehicle includes a body defining a vehicle interior, the air circulation device, the controller, and the air vent assembly.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2014Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventor: Robert C. Jablonski
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Patent number: 9755567Abstract: An electric machine assembly has an electric machine having a stator and a rotor. The rotor has a rotor temperature and is configured to rotate at a rotor speed (?). The stator has stator windings at a stator winding temperature (tS) and the electric machine defines a number of pole pairs (P). A controller is operatively connected to the electric machine and is configured to receive a torque command (T*). The controller has a processor and tangible, non-transitory memory on which is recorded instructions for executing a method for determining a total permanent magnetic flux (?T) as a function of the rotor temperature. Execution of the instructions by the processor causes the controller to determine a high-speed magnetic flux factor (?H) and a low-speed magnetic flux factor (?L).Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2015Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Dwarakanath V Simili, Jihoon Jang
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Patent number: 9751556Abstract: A method of isolating a fault in an electric power steering system includes calculating a value for fault signature components. Each of the calculated values of the fault signature components is compared to a respective threshold value, to determine if any of the calculated values of the fault signature components exceeds its respective threshold value. When at least one of the calculated values of the plurality of fault signature components exceeds its respective threshold value, the above threshold comparison results are compared to a fault table that relates pre-calculated threshold comparison results to pre-identified faults, to determine if the above threshold comparison results correspond to a pre-identified fault. Based on the fault table comparison results, a control action is automatically executed to indicate a pre-identified fault or an unknown fault in the electric power steering system.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2016Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Wen-Chiao Lin, Youssef A. Ghoneim
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Patent number: D796390Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2015Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Michael J. Pevovar, Samuel Zhao, Jaymer Starbody