Patents Assigned to GM
  • PANEL SEALING APPARATUS AND A METHOD OF ASSEMBLING THE PANEL SEALING APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20170029041
    Abstract: A method of assembling a panel sealing apparatus and the panel sealing apparatus includes a panel. The panel defines an aperture and a sealing assembly. The assembly includes a first component and a second component, with the second component at least partially surrounding the first component and is secured to the first component to form a unit. In certain embodiments, the assembly includes a plurality of clips disconnected from each other, each configured to be attached to the panel in the aperture separately from each other and attached to the panel separately from the unit. In other embodiments, the assembly includes a band and a plurality of clips each independently attachable to and detachable from the band, each of the clips configured to be attached to the panel in the aperture separately from the unit and the clips attached to the band before placement of the clips in the aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2015
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Todd E. Allen
  • INDICATION OF VEHICLE STATUS USING LIGHT
    Publication number: 20170028795
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a powertrain, body, component, tire, lighting device, sensor, and controller. The lighting device is positioned with respect to the body or component, which is connected to the body, and illuminates in response to an output signal in a manner corresponding to a status of the vehicle. The sensor determines the status. The controller executes a method to receive, from a remote device, a proximity signal indicative of an operator of the vehicle being within range of the vehicle, and receives an input signal from the sensor indicative of the status of the vehicle. The status includes an ignition status and/or a low tire pressure status. The controller transmits the output signal to the lighting device in response to both the received input signal and the proximity signal to command illumination of the lighting device to thereby display the status of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2015
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Eric E. Schlaupitz
  • WINDOW REGULATOR FOR A DOOR ASSEMBLY OF A VEHICLE
    Publication number: 20170030123
    Abstract: A window regulator includes a guide and an elongated carrier attached to the guide. A drive cable is driven by an actuator to move the carrier relative to the guide. A support cable includes a first end that is attached to a forward edge of a window opening of a door structure. The support cable includes a second end that is attached to a lower end of the guide. A first direction control device is attached to and rotatably supported by the carrier, proximate to a forward edge of the window opening. A second direction control device is attached to and rotatably supported by the carrier, and is disposed rearward of the first direction control device, between the first direction control device and the guide. The support cable is engaged with and guided by the first direction control device and the second direction control device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Terrence P. Costigan, Priyank Kodandaram
  • Airbag module arrangement for a vehicle and vehicle with the airbag module arrangement
    Patent number: 9555765
    Abstract: An airbag module for a vehicle is disclosed. The airbag module includes a module housing, a gas generator in response to an impact of the vehicle, and an airbag for expanding with the gas. The airbag and the gas generator are arranged in the module housing. The airbag module includes an actuator member for carrying out a linear movement and for actuating an unlocking mechanism of an engine bonnet or hood of the vehicle. The actuator member in a position of rest is arranged within the module housing and in an activation position is arranged at least in sections outside the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Thomas Jenny
  • Fabricated-in-place inserts to receive self-piercing rivets
    Patent number: 9556892
    Abstract: One or more ductile metal inserts may be selectively incorporated into articles of limited ductility, including metal castings and molded polymers. The inserts are positioned at joint locations for joining of the article to other articles using self-piercing riveting (SPR). The inserts are of suitable ductility, thickness and strength to receive and retain self-piercing rivets and enable a strong riveted joint between the article and a second article. In an embodiment the articles are magnesium alloy castings formed by any of sand casting, die casting and semi-solid metal casting. The chemical composition of the insert may be informed by the anticipated corrosive environment of the joint and the casting temperature of the magnesium alloy. For magnesium alloy castings which may be exposed to corrosive environments, aluminum alloy inserts are preferred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Blair E. Carlson, Pei-Chung Wang
  • Adaptive automatic climate control for vehicles
    Patent number: 9555689
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and vehicles are provided for providing adaptive automatic climate control functionality for a vehicle. A sensor is configured to detect when a manual override of an automatic climate control feature of a vehicle has occurred. A processor is coupled to the sensor, and is configured to initiate the automatic climate control feature for the vehicle and adjust a calibration of the automatic climate control feature when the manual override has been detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Bibin Sebastian, Todd M. Tumas
  • Updating a vehicle head unit with content from a wireless device
    Patent number: 9560470
    Abstract: A communications system and method of operating a vehicle multi-tainment unit (VMU) within that communications system is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: (a) establishing a connection between the VMU and a mobile device; (b) retrieving from a cache associated with the VMU user data previously provided by the mobile device; (c) prior to receiving current user data from the mobile device, receiving via the connection recently-used user data from the mobile device; (d) comparing the previously-provided user data and the received recently-used data; and (e) updating the previously-provided user data based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Timothy J. Grost, Cody R. Hansen, Karen Juzswik
  • Truck body with rapid load/unload cargo pods
    Patent number: 9555731
    Abstract: One variation may include a truck body having one or more cargo pod lift systems around the perimeter of a truck's center aisle which may be lifted or lowered to load/unload one or more cargo pods and a method for doing the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Konchan, Ian S. Buckley
  • Vehicle door assembly
    Patent number: 9555694
    Abstract: A vehicle door may include a door outer panel defining an exterior surface of the vehicle door; a common door inner panel located inboard of the door outer panel and configured to mount door hardware, with the common door inner panel having a periphery; and a panel extension extending around essentially all of the periphery of the common door inner panel, the panel extension being attached to the periphery of the common door inner panel and attached to the door outer panel to secure the common door inner panel to the door outer panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: James C. O'Kane, Anil K. Sachdev
  • Method for calculating a response time
    Patent number: 9558414
    Abstract: A method for calculating a response time is described. The response time is required in order to direct the attention of a vehicle's driver at the traffic on the road. The driver is monitored by sensors and a state of attentiveness of the driver is ascertained. The state of attentiveness is used to calculate a value, to which an anticipated response time is assigned. Further a method for operating a motor vehicle, a computer program product and a correspondingly equipped motor vehicle are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Gerald Schmidt, Thomas Schramm
  • Sheet metal component and manufacturing method therefor
    Patent number: 9555462
    Abstract: A sheet metal component such as a car door is disclosed. The component includes an outer metal sheet having a groove formed therein, and an inner metal sheet having an edge forming a flange received into the groove. A filling material layer is inserted into the groove between the outer metal sheet and the flange. The outer metal sheet and the flange are welded to one another in holes of the filling material layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Ralf Langendorf, Ronald Sanders, Hartmut Baumgart
  • Methods and systems for adapting a speech system based on user competance
    Patent number: 9558739
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adapting a speech system. In one example a method includes: logging speech data from the speech system; processing the speech data for a pattern of a user competence associated with at least one of task requests and interaction behavior; and selectively updating at least one of a system prompt and an interaction sequence based on the user competence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Robert D. Sims, III, Timothy J. Grost, Ron M. Hecht, Ute Winter
  • Methods and systems for secure communication between wireless electronic devices and vehicles
    Patent number: 9560138
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for communicating with a vehicle. In one embodiment, a portable communication device for communicating with a vehicle is provided. The portable communication device includes memory that stores vehicle specific information. The portable communication device further includes at least one processor that executes instructions that cause the portable communication device to enable a secure communication between a wireless end device and the vehicle based on the vehicle specific information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Neeraj R. Gautama, Roddi L. Macinnes, Jarvis Chau, Norman J. Weigert
  • Vehicle exterior
    Patent number: D777604
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Matt McNerney
  • Vehicle body exterior
    Patent number: D777605
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Richard Fulvio Ferlazzo, Peter William Hughes, Justin James Thompson
  • Vehicle hood
    Patent number: D777620
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Pevovar, Samuel Zhao, Jaymer Starbody
  • Vehicle hood
    Patent number: D777621
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Hoon S. Kim
  • Vehicle hood
    Patent number: D777622
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Timothy P. Kozub, Stuart Cooper, Jonghyuk Park
  • Vehicle spoiler
    Patent number: D777628
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Timothy P. Kozub, Stuart Cooper, Jonghyuk Park
  • Vehicle front headlamp
    Patent number: D777955
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Candice M. Willett, Frank Wu