Patents Assigned to GM Global Technology Operation LLC
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Patent number: 9623813Abstract: Fit and finish methods using shape memory polymers (“SMP”) are disclosed herein. In an example of the fit and finish method, a first part and a second part are positioned adjacent to one another such that a shape memory polymer in a temporary shape is adjacent to a gap between the first part and the second part. The SMP is heated to a switching temperature of the SMP, which causes the SMP to initiate conversion to a permanent shape so that the SMP extends into the gap to close the gap between the first part and the second part.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2013Date of Patent: April 18, 2017Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Alan L. Browne, Nancy L. Johnson
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Patent number: 9617944Abstract: A method of controlling a concentration of hydrocarbons in exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine includes sensing an oxygen percentage of the flow of exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine and determining a concentration of hydrocarbons in the flow of exhaust gas. An engine control module may then adjust the sensed oxygen percentage of the exhaust gas based on the determined concentration of hydrocarbons in the flow of exhaust gas to define a corrected oxygen percentage. The control module may then control at least one of a hydrocarbon injection rate for in-cylinder combustion of the internal combustion engine, and a hydrocarbon injection rate for a post combustion exhaust gas treatment process, based on the corrected oxygen percentage, to control the concentration of hydrocarbons in the exhaust gas.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2015Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventor: Charles Dean
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Patent number: 9618242Abstract: A thermal storage heat pump system transfers heat to a passenger compartment of a vehicle from at least one of a thermal storage device and ambient air. Heat from the thermal storage device is absorbed by a first coolant flowing through it, and is transferred to a refrigerant via a first heat exchanger. The heat is then transferred from the refrigerant to a second coolant via a second heat exchanger, and then from the second coolant to air flowing into the passenger compartment via a heater core. Heat from ambient air is absorbed by the refrigerant via a third heat exchanger. The heat source is determined by at least one of the thermal storage device temperature, ambient air temperature, and ambient air humidity. At start-up of the vehicle, heat transfer to the refrigerant and to the second coolant is controlled based on low-side and high-side pressure measurements of the refrigerant.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2013Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Paul S. Lombardo, Lawrence P. Ziehr, Brian P. Lemon
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Patent number: 9616931Abstract: A releasable joint configured to attach a cradle to an underbody of a vehicle subjectable to an external force includes a fastener, an attachment portion of the cradle, and a partial sleeve. The fastener attaches the cradle to the underbody. The attachment portion of the cradle encircles the fastener and includes a breakaway portion that fractures when the external force exceeds a threshold force. The partial sleeve is attached to and disposed within the attachment portion of the cradle and partially encircles the fastener so as to form an opening that provides a horizontal pathway for the fastener to move through to exit the cradle when the breakaway portion fractures. The cradle may separate from the underbody at the releasable joint with no vertical motion of the cradle relative to the underbody when the external force exceeds the threshold force.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2015Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Balbir S. Sangha, Zohir Molhem, Frederick M. Marquardt, Munho Kim
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Patent number: 9621099Abstract: A method for controlling switching between a full winding control mode and a half winding control mode for a multi-phase electric machine. The machine includes a stator and a rotor, split stator windings for each phase of the machine, where each stator winding includes a first winding section and a second winding section, an inverter circuit including a pair of inverter switches for each phase of the machine, where the pair of inverter switches for each phase is electrically coupled to the first and second winding sections for that phase, and a plurality of switch assemblies for switching between the full winding mode and the half winding mode, where each switch assembly is electrically coupled to the pair of inverter switches and the first and second winding sections for a particular phase, and where each switch assembly includes a first AC switching device and a second AC switching device.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2016Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Chandra S. Namuduri, Lei Hao
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Patent number: 9616787Abstract: A seat assembly includes a seat base and a seatback disposed proximal to the seat base. The seatback includes a seatback body and an armrest movably coupled to the seatback body. As such, the armrest can move relative to the seatback body among a closed position, a release position, and an open position. The armrest is removably coupled to the seatback body. Therefore, the armrest can be removed from the seatback body only when the armrest is in the release position.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2015Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Fernando A. Siqueira, Adelchi R. Tiboni, Thiago Canola Afonso
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Patent number: 9619946Abstract: A communication system in a vehicle is described and various methods for securely providing diagnostic data between a vehicle and a remote server using a vehicle diagnostic tool. The method may include the steps of: receiving at the remote from the diagnostic tool both a challenge question and encrypted data acquired by the diagnostic tool from a vehicle electronic control unit; using the challenge question to determine how to decrypt the encrypted data; and decrypting the encrypted data at the remote server.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2014Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Stephan Huang, David M. Nairn, Muralikrishnan K
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Patent number: 9618410Abstract: A check fixture measures a total clamp force applied by a welder device. The welder device includes a welding horn having a plurality of weld pads and welding anvil having a plurality of weld pads. The check fixture includes a base member operatively supporting a plurality of force sensors. The base member and the force sensors are received between the weld pads of the welding horn and the anvil pads of the welding anvil. Each force sensor is configured to measure an individual clamp force applied thereto by corresponding weld and anvil pads when the base member is received between the welding horn and the welding anvil and the welder device is in the clamped position. The individual clamp forces are used to determine whether the weld and/or anvil pads are worn or misaligned.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2014Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: John Patrick Spicer, Wayne W. Cai, Debejyo Chakraborty, Keith Mink
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Patent number: 9616900Abstract: A system, for use at a vehicle to estimate vehicle roll angle and road bank angle, in real time and generally simultaneously. The system includes a sensor configured to measure vehicle roll rate, a processor; and a computer-readable medium. The medium includes instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising estimating, using an observer and the vehicle roll rate measured by the sensor, a vehicle roll rate. The operations also include estimating, using an observer and a measured vehicle roll rate, the vehicle roll angle, and estimating, based on the vehicle roll rate estimated and the vehicle roll angle estimated, the road bank angle.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2014Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Shih-ken Chen, David M. Sidlosky, Jin-Jae Chen, Nikolai K. Moshchuk
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Patent number: 9620283Abstract: A system for transmitting data signals from a sensor on a vehicle through magnetic resonance coupling (MRC). The system includes a control circuit having a base coil, a variable current source, a variable capacitor and a control load, where the variable current source and the capacitor are tuned to provide a predetermined AC current to the base coil so as to generate an oscillating magnetic field at a predetermined frequency. The system also includes a receiver circuit associated with the sensor, where the receiver circuit includes a receiver coil, a tuning capacitor and a variable resistive load. The receiver coil is tuned and magnetically coupled to the base coil at the predetermined frequency. A change in the variable resistive load in the receiver circuit in response to a sensor measurement causes a change in the voltage across the control load that gives an indication of the sensor measurement.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2015Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventor: Moshe Laifenfeld
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Patent number: 9619894Abstract: A system and method for estimating dynamics of a mobile platform by matching feature points in overlapping images from cameras on the platform, such as cameras in a surround-view camera system on a vehicle. The method includes identifying overlap image areas for any two cameras in the surround-view camera system, identifying common feature points in the overlap image areas, and determining that the common feature points in the overlap image areas are not at the same location. The method also includes estimating three-degree of freedom vehicle dynamic parameters from the matching between the common feature points, and estimating vehicle dynamics of one or more of pitch, roll and height variation using the vehicle dynamic parameters.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2015Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Jinsong Wang, Wende Zhang, Bakhtiar B. Litkouhi
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Patent number: 9617762Abstract: A number of variations may include a product including a retainer for holding a hood in a partially open position and for releasing the hood to permit full opening movement.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2014Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Joseph P. Fannon, Craig D. Schroeder
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Patent number: 9616817Abstract: A storage assembly for a vehicle includes a flexible, silicone wall portion having a first edge and a second edge. A first hinge support rotatably supports the first edge of the wall portion for rotation about a first axis. A second hinge support rotatably supports the second edge of the wall portion for rotation about a second axis. The wall portion is rotatable relative to the first hinge support about the first axis in a first rotational direction, and is rotatable relative to the second hinge support about the second axis in a second rotational direction, between a stowed position and a deployed position. When disposed in the stowed position, the wall portion is positioned adjacent a trim panel. When disposed in the deployed position, the wall portion is positioned away from the trim panel to support a container between the wall portion and the interior trim panel.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2015Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventor: Taryn Dyle
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Patent number: 9621012Abstract: A lamination pack for a motor and method of forming the lamination pack is provided. The method includes inserting a plurality of conductor bars into a plurality of rotor slots defined by a lamination stack such that opposing bar ends of the conductor bars extend from opposing end faces of the lamination stack, skewing the lamination stack and the conductor bars to a skew angle relative to a rotation axis of the lamination stack, and subsequently bending the bar ends of the conductor bars in opposing radial directions to a locking angle greater than the skew angle, to lock each of the conductor bars in its respective rotor slot. The bent bar ends exert a compressive axial locking force on the lamination stack to prevent axial and radial movement of the laminations in the lamination stack and to prevent axial movement of the conductor bars relative to the lamination stack.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2015Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: John S. Agapiou, Michael D. Hanna
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Patent number: 9621798Abstract: A method for providing a high resolution display image that includes providing a camera image that can be processed into at least two different camera views. The method also includes identifying a warped grid in each of the at least two different camera views and identifying a minimum field of view for displaying each of the at least two different camera views. The method further includes cropping the camera image based on the identified minimum field of view and de-warping the at least two different camera views to provide the high resolution display image.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2015Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Wende Zhang, Jinsong Wang, Brunno L. Moretti
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Patent number: 9621001Abstract: A rotor assembly for an electric machine includes a plurality of lamination sheets. Each of the lamination sheets defines an aperture. The lamination sheets are disposed adjacent each other to define a laminated stack. The apertures are aligned with each other to define a slot extending parallel with a central axis of the laminated stack. A magnet is disposed within the slot. The lamination sheets include a group of recess lamination sheets and a tab lamination sheet. The tab lamination sheet includes a tab that extends into the slot, and into abutting engagement with the magnet to bias the magnet against a wall of the slot. The apertures of the group of recess lamination sheets include a groove portion that defines a groove. The tab of the tab lamination sheet is at least partially disposed within the groove defined by the recess lamination sheets.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2013Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Edward L. Kaiser, Paul Buchholz
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Patent number: 9617930Abstract: The method can control a powertrain in order to maintain the charge temperature at a desired value regardless of exhaust manifold pressure or altitude. The method includes the following steps: (a) receiving a torque request; (b) determining a desired air charge based, a least in part, on the torque request; (c) determining an actual air charge based, at least in part, on input signals from a manifold absolute pressure (MAP) sensor and a mass airflow (MAF) sensor; (d) adjusting an intake valve timing of the intake valve such that the actual air charge is equal to a desired air charge, and (e) adjusting throttle position and actuator positions of boosting devices such that the actual intake manifold pressure is equal to the desired intake manifold pressure.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2014Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Jun-Mo Kang, Orgun A. Guralp, Hanho Yun, Sai S. V. Rajagopalan, Chen-Fang Chang, Paul M. Najt
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Patent number: D783482Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2016Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Brian J. Smith, Robin Krieg
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Patent number: D784226Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2016Date of Patent: April 18, 2017Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventor: Christine Park Cheng
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Patent number: D784579Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2016Date of Patent: April 18, 2017Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Christine Park Cheng, Candice M. Willett
