Patents Assigned to GM Global Technology Operation LLC
  • Patent number: 9457714
    Abstract: A system for controlling a vehicle horn includes a current delivery circuit and a control circuit that controls the current delivery circuit in response to a horn activation signal received from a horn pad switch. The control circuit includes a control module that generates a horn termination signal if a duration of the horn activation signal exceeds a predetermined duration. The horn termination signal is configured to cause the current delivery circuit to prevent delivery of current to the horn to deactivate the horn. The control circuit further includes a bypass circuit configured to cause the current delivery circuit to deliver current to the horn to activate the horn responsive to the horn activation signal in the absence of the horn termination signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Marcelo V. Lazarini
  • Patent number: 9457742
    Abstract: A method for communicating using a hybrid vehicle communications network including a combination of wired and wireless electronic control units (ECUs) and wired and wireless peripherals. The network includes a plurality of ECUs that include a plurality of wireless ECUs. The network also includes a plurality of peripheral devices, where one or more of the peripheral devices receive commands from one or more of the ECUs and one or more of the peripheral devices provide signals to the ECUs, and where the plurality of peripherals include at least one wireless peripheral. Wireless transmission signals transmitted from one of the wireless peripherals is received by all of the wireless ECUs. The method performs an arbitration process where a message provided from one of the wireless ECUs is placed on a communications backbone based on a quality of the transmission signal from the wireless peripheral.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Moshe Laifenfeld, Tal Philosof
  • Patent number: 9457696
    Abstract: A console assembly generally includes a console body and an armrest movably coupled to the console body. The console body defines an interior console cavity. The armrest can rotate relative to the console body about an axis of rotation between a closed, locked position and an open, unlocked position. Moreover, the armrest can move linearly relative to the console body between the open, unlocked position and an open, locked position. In the closed, locked position, the armrest covers the interior console cavity of the console body. When the armrest is in the open, unlocked position, the interior console cavity is accessible. When the armrest is in the open, locked position, the interior console cavity is accessible and the armrest is locked to the console body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Taryn E. Dyle
  • Patent number: 9458004
    Abstract: A fueling nozzle for dispensing a gaseous fuel to a vehicle includes a main body having a conduit formed therein and configured to permit the gaseous fuel to flow therethrough. The conduit terminates at a dispensing end of the main body. The dispensing end of the main body forms an interface with a fuel inlet of the vehicle during a fueling operation. The fueling nozzle further includes a sensor disposed at the dispensing end of the main body adjacent the conduit. The sensor is configured to detect a leakage of the gaseous fuel during the fueling operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Jörg Schulze
  • Patent number: 9458780
    Abstract: Based on a desired average number of activated cylinders per sub-period of a predetermined period including P sub-periods, a cylinder control module selects one of N predetermined cylinder activation/deactivation patterns. The selected cylinder activation/deactivation pattern corresponds to Q activated cylinders per sub-period, Q is an integer between zero and a total number of cylinders of an engine, inclusive, P is an integer greater than one, and the desired average number of active cylinders is a number between zero and the total number of cylinders of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Darrell W. Burleigh, Randall S. Beikmann
  • Patent number: 9457438
    Abstract: A system and method for automating an assembly process of threading a tube-nut onto a threaded connector. The system includes a robot having a force sensor and a tube-nut runner tool coupled to the robot and having a tool head with a rotatable socket therein. The method includes engaging the socket to the tube-nut under force control using the force signal from the force sensor. The tool controller causes the socket to rotate the tube-nut where the tool controller controls the torque and/or angle displacement of the tool head to tighten the tube-nut on the threaded connector. The method also includes disengaging the tool head from the tube-nut after the tube-nut is properly tightened onto the threaded connector under force control to ensure that the end member is properly disengaged from the tube-nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Muhammad E. Abdallah, Gary L. Villeneuve, Sreten Zakula, Srinivas Chilpuri, Michael S. Cochran
  • Patent number: 9458812
    Abstract: An engine control system comprises a temperature control module and an engine disabling module. The temperature control module regulates a first temperature of an electrically heated catalyst (EHC) based on a first predetermined light-off temperature while an engine is shut down. The engine disabling module selectively disables start up of the engine when a second temperature of a passive catalyst is less than a second predetermined light-off temperature while a maximum torque output of an electric motor is greater than a desired torque output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Halim G Santoso, Eugene V. Gonze, Brian Spohn, Bryan Nathaniel Roos
  • Patent number: 9458779
    Abstract: An engine control system of a vehicle includes a manifold temperature module, a runner temperature module. The manifold temperature module determines a first temperature of gas in an intake manifold of an engine. The runner temperature module determines a second temperature of gas in an intake runner associated with a cylinder based on the first temperature of the gas in the intake manifold. The engine control system further includes at least one of: a fuel control module that controls fueling of the cylinder based on the second temperature of the gas in the intake runner; and a spark control module that controls spark of the cylinder based on the second temperature of the gas in the intake runner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Daniel G. Brennan, Gregory P. Matthews, Layne K. Wiggins
  • Patent number: 9457864
    Abstract: A number of variations may include a product comprising a bicycle with an integrated folding system comprising: a first latch system in a stem of the bicycle; a second latch system in a headset of the bicycle; a third latch system in a frame of the bicycle; and wherein the first latch system, the second latch system, and the third latch system work simultaneously to fold the bicycle to a compact size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jess R. Bailie, Lawrence G. Cole, Brett Crockett
  • Patent number: 9461346
    Abstract: A thermal management system that provides air cooling and heating for a battery by flow-shifting air through a battery enclosure. The battery includes a plurality of battery cells provided in the enclosure. The enclosure includes a first manifold having a first end and second end and second manifold opposite to the first manifold having a first end and second end. The thermal management system includes a plurality of valves for allowing air flow into and out of the first end or the second end of the first manifold and a second valve for allowing air flow into and out of the first end or the second end of the second manifold to provide the flow-shifting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Marc Becker, Remy Fontaine
  • Patent number: 9461485
    Abstract: A system and method for estimating the state-of-charge (SOC) of a battery cell in a vehicle using a magnetic sensor that measures changes in magnetism of the battery cell. The method provides an offset correction to a current output signal from the magnetic sensor that calibrates the current output signal to a known magnetic field strength, provides a temperature correction to the current output signal that corrects the current output signal based on a temperature of the magnetic sensor, and provides a current correction to the current output signal that removes portions of the magnetic field caused by other battery cells, where the corrected current output signal is converted to the battery cell SOC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Brian J. Koch
  • Patent number: 9459113
    Abstract: A system and method that provide a video-based vehicle navigation system. The system positions an arrow on the video display that shows the specific turning direction for the vehicle for route guidance purposes. To determine the proper position of the guidance arrow, the process determines a distance from the current vehicle position to the location where the vehicle needs to turn using any suitable information, such as GPS position, range measurements and map information. The process then positions the guidance arrow on the ground at the turning location in world coordinates, and projects the guidance arrow onto the image. The camera can be calibrated to the ground using various techniques, such as an online automatic calibration process that uses detected objects in the scene around the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Wende Zhang, Varsha Sadekar
  • Patent number: 9462626
    Abstract: A communication system that includes a vehicle and a mobile device, and a method of continuing a mirroring session between the mobile device and a display in the vehicle, which is carried out using the communication system. The method includes the steps of: establishing the mirroring session between the mobile device and the vehicle display; providing mirroring data from the mobile device to the vehicle display via the mirroring session; receiving at the mobile device a keep-alive message from the vehicle display; and in response to receiving the keep-alive message, continuing the mirroring session following an initiation of an inactivity mode of the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Lakshmi V. Thanayankizil, Fan Bai, Robert A. Hrabak
  • Patent number: 9459028
    Abstract: A vehicular heat pump system utilizing intermediate gas recompression is provided. The heat pump system is for use in a vehicle having a battery and a passenger compartment. The heat pump system may include a heating circuit and a cooling circuit each including a compressor having a first inlet and a second inlet and a vapor-liquid separator configured to separate intermediate pressure refrigerant supplied by a first expansion device into refrigerant in a gaseous state flowing therethrough and refrigerant in a liquid state flowing therethrough. The vapor-liquid separator may be configured to selectively inject refrigerant in a gaseous state into the compressor at the second inlet to increase the mass flow rate of the refrigerant. This allows the heat pump system to operate effectively in cold ambient temperatures. A method of operating a heat pump system utilizing intermediate gas recompression is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Bryan M. Styles, Mark D. Nemesh, Harry E. Eustice, Mukund S. Wankhede
  • Patent number: 9457682
    Abstract: A method for predicting the duration of a future charging process for a vehicle battery. The method comprises estimating a future charge amount of the battery corresponding to the start of the future charging process. The method further comprises estimating a future temperature of the battery. The method still further comprises determining a future charging power or a characteristic thereof to be applied to the battery during the future charging process, wherein the future charging power or characteristic thereof is based on the estimated future charge amount and the estimated future temperature and is representative of a charging amount or characteristic thereof that will maintain the temperature of the battery at or below a threshold temperature during the future charging process. The method still further comprises predicting a duration of the future charging process based on the estimated future charge amount and the determined future charging power or characteristic thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Christopher J. Twarog, Ian L. Hanna, Trista K. Schieffer
  • Patent number: 9460567
    Abstract: A vehicle diagnostic communication system and a method of establishing a secure diagnostic session at a vehicle is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: providing a seed value from an electronic control unit (ECU) to a vehicle diagnostics tool; determining a first challenge response at the diagnostics tool, a remote server coupled to the diagnostics tool, or both, wherein the first challenge response is calculated using the seed value and one or more iterations of a key derivation function; providing the first challenge response to the ECU; and if the first challenge response is validated at the ECU, conducting a diagnostic session between the diagnostics tool and the ECU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Stephan Huang
  • Patent number: 9457789
    Abstract: A fuel control module, based on an engine torque request, fuels N cylinders of an engine using a first fuel system. N is an integer greater than zero. A throttle control module, based on the engine torque request and the fueling of the N cylinders using the first fuel system, opens a throttle valve to a predetermined wide open throttle (WOT) position. A cost module, when the engine torque request is greater than a predetermined torque: determines a first cost value for fueling at least one of the N cylinders of the engine using a second fuel system; and determines a second cost value for adjusting at least one operating parameter other than fueling of the engine. An adjustment module, based on, the first and second cost values, one of: initiates the fueling of the at least one of the N cylinders using the second fuel system; and adjusts of the at least one operating parameter other than fueling of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Tameem K. Assaf, Louis A. Avallone
  • Patent number: 9457807
    Abstract: A method for automated lane centering and/or lane changing purposes for a vehicle traveling on a roadway that employs roadway points from a map database to determine a reference vehicle path and sensors on the vehicle for detecting static and moving objects to adjust the reference path. The method includes reducing the curvature of the reference path to generate a reduced curvature reference path that reduces the turning requirements of the vehicle and setting the speed of the vehicle from posted roadway speeds from the map database. The method also includes providing multiple candidate vehicle paths and vehicle speeds to avoid the static and moving objects in front of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Carnegie Mellon University
    Inventors: Jin-Woo Lee, Upali Priyantha Mudalige, Tianyu Gu, John M. Dolan
  • Patent number: D767459
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Hoon S. Kim
  • Patent number: D767461
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Timothy P. Kozub, Stuart Cooper, Jonghyuk Park