Patents Assigned to GM
  • Publication number: 20220266738
    Abstract: An autonomous delivery system for a vehicle is described and includes a plurality of cubbies for retaining items for delivery to users, wherein each of the cubbies comprises a door for selectively enabling access to contents of the cubby, wherein each of the doors comprises a selectively transparent display and wherein upon arrival at a delivery destination, the selectively transparent displays communicate to a recipient associated with the delivery destination in which one of the cubbies a delivery associated with the recipient is retained; and an authentication system for authenticating the recipient and, subsequent to successful authentication of the recipient, permitting access to contents of the one of the cubbies in which the delivery associated with the recipient is retained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2021
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Applicant: GM Cruise Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Jon Meador, Alexis De Stasio
  • Patent number: 11420523
    Abstract: Presented are high-voltage electrical systems with optimized pulse width modulation (PWM) control, methods for making/using such systems, and vehicles with enhanced electric drive capabilities via PWM type and frequency control. A method of operating an electrical system includes an electronic controller determining a PWM region layout with multiple PWM regions arranged in a torque-speed curve calibrated to an electric motor and power inverter. The controller selects one of the PWM regions based on a speed and torque of the motor, and selects a PWM type based on this selected PWM region. The controller selects a PWM switching frequency style based on the selected PWM region, and selects a PWM switching frequency based on the selected PWM region, switching frequency style, and PWM type. The controller commands a power inverter to regulate transfer of electrical power between a rechargeable battery and the motor based on the PWM type and switching frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Brent S. Gagas, Brian A. Welchko, Kerrie M. Spaven
  • Patent number: 11424442
    Abstract: A method of making a negative electrode material for an electrochemical cell that cycles lithium ions is provided that includes centrifugally distributing a molten precursor comprising silicon and lithium by contacting the molten precursor with a rotating surface in a centrifugal atomizing reactor. The molten precursor is solidified to form a plurality of substantially round solid electroactive particles comprising an alloy of lithium and silicon and having a D50 diameter of less than or equal to about 20 micrometers. In certain variations, the negative electroactive material particles may further have one or more coatings disposed thereon, such as a carbonaceous coating and/or an oxide-based coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Bradley R. Frieberg, Xiaosong Huang, Zhongyi Liu, Mark W. Verbrugge
  • Patent number: 11420621
    Abstract: An autonomous vehicle (AV) is described herein. The AV is configured to identify an occluded region where a portion of a field of view of a sensor is occluded by an object. The AV is further configured to hypothesize that an object exists in the occluded region and is moving in the occluded region. The AV is still further configured to perform a driving maneuver based upon the hypothesized object existing in the occluded region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: GM CRUISE HOLDINGS LLC
    Inventors: Shiva Ghose, Daniel Chen, Ted Nitz, Christophe Philippona, Curt Harrington, Christopher Daily-Diamond, Mason Swofford, Ryan Holben, Eric Lujan, Benjamin Greer, Francesco Capodieci
  • Patent number: 11421114
    Abstract: An aqueous precursor liquid for forming an anti-fouling heterophasic thermoset polymeric coating is provided. The precursor liquid includes a first fluorine-containing polyol precursor having a functionality >about 2 that forms a fluorine-containing polymer component defining a first phase in the coating. The precursor liquid also includes a second precursor that forms a second component present as a second phase. The first phase can be a continuous phase and the second phase can be a discrete phase, or the second phase can be the continuous phase and the first phase can be the discrete phase. The discrete phase includes a plurality of domains each having an average size of ?to about 500 nm to ?to about 25,000 nm. A crosslinking agent, water, and optional acid or base are also present. Methods of making anti-fouling heterophasic thermoset polymeric coatings with such precursors are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Kevin J. Drummey, Adam F. Gross, Ashley M. Dustin, Anthony L. Smith, April R. Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 11420683
    Abstract: Presented are fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composite components for vehicle body structures, methods for making/using such components, and motor vehicles equipped with such components. A vehicle body structure includes one or more elongated support rails (e.g., a pair of lateral roof rails) each with an inner contoured rail panel joined to an outer contoured rail panel to define an internal rail cavity. One or more elongated support pillars (e.g., front, side, and/or back vehicle pillars) adjoin the support rail(s) and each includes an inner contoured pillar panel joined to an outer contoured pillar panel to define an internal pillar cavity coupled to the internal rail cavity. One or both contoured pillar panels and one or both contoured rail panels is/are formed, in whole or in part, from an FRP material. A structural reinforcement insert may be located inside the adjoined pillar and rail, filling a discrete region within the internal cavities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Bradley A. Newcomb, Julien P. Mourou, Giles D. Bryer, Joung Min Choi, Thomas S. Prevost
  • Patent number: 11420656
    Abstract: A vehicle system comprising a plurality of subsystems, each of the plurality of subsystems configured to perform at least a portion of at least one of a plurality of functions. The plurality of functions are organized in a hierarchy of functions including complex higher order functions and simpler lower order functions. The vehicle system further comprises an advanced computing module configured to control the plurality of subsystems in order to perform a higher order function and a lower order function that supports the higher order function. The advanced computing module comprises software instructions including a first gate point. The first gate point may be activated to prevent the advanced computing module from performing the higher order function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Joseph E. Ploucha, Kevin M. Baltes
  • Patent number: 11420638
    Abstract: A vehicle and a system and method of operating a vehicle. The system includes a processor. The processor learns a driver's behavior of a driver of the vehicle as the driver navigates a road segment, creates a behavior policy based on the driver's behavior and a threshold associated with the road segment, and controls the vehicle to navigate the road segment using the behavior policy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Mohammadali Shahriari, Amir Takhmar, Reza Zarringhalam
  • Patent number: 11424635
    Abstract: A method for estimating a state of a battery pack using a controller having battery state estimator (BSE) logic includes receiving or delivering a constant baseline current via the battery pack. Current oscillations having time-variant frequency content are selectively injected into the baseline current via the controller in response to a predetermined condition. The baseline current and the current oscillations combine to form a final current. The method includes estimating a battery parameter via the BSE logic concurrently with the current oscillations to generate an estimated battery parameter, and estimating the present state of the battery pack via the controller using the estimated battery parameter. An electrical system includes a rotary electric machine that is electrically connected to and driven by the battery pack, and a controller configured to execute the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Meixian Wang, Yue-Yun Wang, Houchun Xia, Justin Bunnell, Charles W. Wampler
  • Patent number: 11424559
    Abstract: An automotive battery cable includes an electrical wire, a terminal crimped onto a distal end of the electrical wire, and a sleeve positioned on the electrical wire and extending over an attachment point between the terminal and the electrical wire, the sleeve including a first portion including a body and a neck, the body including an inner surface having contour features adapted to allow the body to deform and compress against the attachment point and matching the shape of the attachment point to sealingly encapsulate the attachment point, and the neck extending from the body around and along the electrical wire, and a second portion encircling and compressing the body onto the attachment point to seal the attachment point within the first portion and to provide a positive stop to limit relative motion of the electrical wire and the terminal at the attachment point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Luis J Ruiz, Francisco David Velasco
  • Patent number: 11420579
    Abstract: A vehicle, system and a computer-implemented method for setting a height of a seat belt in a vehicle. The system includes a computer vision module, a motor and a controller. The computer vision module determines a seatbelt-neck distance (SND) and a seatbelt-shoulder distance (SSD) for an occupant of the vehicle. The motor adjusts the height of the seat belt. The controller control the motor to set the height of the seat belt based on the SND and the SSD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Michael Baltaxe, Ruben Mergui, Gila Kamhi
  • Patent number: 11424581
    Abstract: A charge port module for an electric vehicle (EV) includes a charge port body having a first side, a second side, and an interface for mounting to an EV body. The module also includes a receptacle on the charge port body first side and configured to accept a charging plug. The module additionally includes an electrical connector on the charge port body second side, in electrical communication with the receptacle, and configured to engage an EV electrical system. The first side of the charge port body defines a channel. The module also includes a cartridge configured to slidingly engage the channel. The cartridge includes a cartridge body defining an access opening configured to facilitate charging plug access to the receptacle after the cartridge has engaged and has seated in the channel. A light element is arranged on the cartridge body and configured to illuminate the receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Matthew M. Stack, Omair Mustafa, Dayananda Narasimhaiah
  • Patent number: 11423321
    Abstract: A system and method of determining system status in a vehicle system. The method including collecting, by a computing system, a plurality of data associated with a test specimen and the vehicle system, selecting a relevant data set of the plurality of data, the selecting based on at least one correlation coefficient associated with the plurality of data, and transforming at least a portion of the selected relevant data to form a transformed data set, the transforming based on mathematical properties. The method also includes collecting statistics associated with the selected relevant data set and the transformed data set to form a statistics data set, classifying the selected relevant data set, transformed data set, and the statistics data set; and predicting a status of a system based on the classifying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Alessandra Neri, Maria Camuglia, Alessia Tuninetti, Elena Baralis, Flavio Giobergia, Davide Tricarico
  • Patent number: 11420555
    Abstract: An audio notification system for an autonomous vehicle (AV) determines that the AV is within range of a user and emits a sound though a speaker of the AV to notify that the user that the vehicle has arrived. The audio notification system may include a sensor for sensing that the user has accessed the AV, and turns off the sound in response to the user accessing the AV. The audio notification may be generated according to one or more audio options, e.g., volume, pitch, or audio pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: GM CRUISE HOLDINGS LLC
    Inventors: Anthony Galliano, III, Arun A. Mathews, Charlotte Blanc, Pratik Palnitkar, Jacqueline Mary Shannon, Timothy Jon Meador
  • Patent number: 11425287
    Abstract: An apparatus for protecting a camera from foreign debris incudes a first body and a second body removably coupled to the first body. The first body has a first inner surface and a first outer surface opposite the first inner surface. The first inner surface defines a first cavity. The first inner surface has an inner circumference. The first body includes a protrusion extending directly from the first inner surface toward the first cavity. The protrusion extending along an entirety of the inner circumference of the first inner surface and is shaped as a half-torus. The second body has a second inner surface and a second outer surface opposite the second inner surface. The second inner surface defines a second cavity. The second cavity is in fluid communication with the first cavity to facilitate flow of the fluid from the first cavity to the second cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Joel L. Smith
  • Patent number: 11422067
    Abstract: A method for quantifying dynamic response characteristics of a real-time damper includes positioning the damper between a stationary member and a moveable member of a shock press having a force transducer, and transmitting motion control signals to the shock press, via a test controller, to stroke the moveable member and cause the damper to move with a constant velocity between extremes of stroke. A test drive signal is transmitted to the damper for a calibrated test duration. The test drive signal has a calibrated discrete frequency, frequencies, or a frequency sweep range. The method includes measuring, via the force transducer, a force component of the damper while transmitting the test drive signal, and quantifying the response characteristics of the damper over the test duration, including recording the response characteristics in a memory device. A test system includes a shock press, force transducer, and test controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Kenneth L. Oblizajek
  • Patent number: 11421310
    Abstract: A precipitation hardenable aluminum alloy is disclosed along with a precipitation hardened form of the aluminum alloy and a method of manufacturing an aluminum alloy article from the precipitation hardenable aluminum alloy. The disclosed precipitation hardenable aluminum alloy has a composition that includes, on a weight percent (wt %) basis, 8%-13% zinc, 1.5%-5% magnesium, 0%-5% copper, 0%-2% of zirconium, chromium, or zirconium and chromium in total, and the balance aluminum with no more than 0.5% impurities. The alloy composition is adaptable to a wide range of manufacturing processes including additive manufacturing. The composition of the aluminum alloy also enables the dispersion of strengthening precipitate phases selected from an ?-phase precipitate, a ?-phase precipitate, and a T-phase precipitate, while being free of a S-phase precipitate, when precipitation hardened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Andrew C. Bobel, Anil K. Sachdev
  • Patent number: 11424509
    Abstract: A method for coating a separator for a battery includes creating an electrostatic field and disposing a substrate material within the electrostatic field. The method further includes applying a coating material to the substrate material in a presence of the electrostatic field and drying the coating material upon the substrate material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Ruchira R. Dharmasena, Shuru Chen, Fang Dai, Mei Cai
  • Publication number: 20220261627
    Abstract: Systems and method are provided for monitoring an operator of a vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving, by a processor, data generated by the vehicle; determining, by the processor, causal time series event data based on the received data; computing, by the processor, a score for at least one of safety and quality based on a first machine learning model and the causal time series event data; computing, by the processor, at least one explanation for the score based on a second machine learning model; and generating, by the processor, display data to display at least one of the causal time series event data, the score, and the explanation to an end user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Ramesh Sethu, Prakash Mohan Peranandam, Rami I. Debouk, Arun Adiththan, Guangyu J. Zou
  • Patent number: D961484
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Eduardo B Walendowsky