Patents Assigned to GM
  • Patent number: 9496572
    Abstract: A fuel cell system is provided that includes a fuel cell stack and an air compressor in communication with a cathode inlet, a hydrogen source in communication with an anode inlet, and a start-up battery adapted to power the air compressor. The start-up battery is at least one of a low-voltage battery and a high-voltage battery. A pressure sensor is in communication with the air compressor and adapted to measure a compressor outlet pressure. A power conversion module is in electrical communication with the start-up battery and the air compressor. A controller is in communication with the power conversion module and adapted to set an air compressor speed based on an available electrical energy. A closed-loop method of operating the fuel cell system at start-up is also provided, wherein an anode purge is scheduled based on an air flow rate calculated from the compressor outlet pressure and the actual speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Abdullah B. Alp, Akbar Chowdhury, Matthew C. Kirklin, Matthew K. Hortop, John P. Salvador
  • Patent number: 9494090
    Abstract: A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a misfire detection module and a fuel control module. The misfire detection module detects misfire in a cylinder of an engine. The fuel control module controls a first fuel system to deliver a first fuel to the cylinder and controls a second fuel system to deliver a second fuel to the cylinder. The first fuel and the second fuel are different types of fuel. The fuel control module selectively switches from delivering the first fuel to the cylinder to delivering the second fuel to the cylinder when misfire is detected in the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Tameem K. Assaf, Louis A. Avallone
  • Patent number: 9495812
    Abstract: A system is provided for calibration of vehicle electronic modules. The system includes: a vehicle and a computing device separate from the vehicle. The vehicle includes: a vehicle communications interface, configured to facilitate communications with a computing device without utilizing an Assembly Line Diagnostic Link (ALDL) or on-board diagnostic (OBD) port; and a plurality of electronic modules, the plurality of electronic modules being configurable via calibration data received via the vehicle communications interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Jamison C. Schroeder, Alex Szmatula, Scott A. Rush, Brian V. Sychta
  • Patent number: 9497729
    Abstract: A method and system for selectively providing cellular offload services to mobile user data devices via vehicle-based access points. Subscribers and affiliates of vehicle-related online services register their user data devices for authorized connections. Vehicle metrics are used to determine the state of a vehicle (being driven or parked), and the metrics of the user device can be compared with the vehicle metrics to determine if the user device is inside the vehicle. Limiting access to authorized user devices reduces load on the vehicular access points and allows preventing the vehicular access points from being erroneously included on access point maps and thereby infecting the maps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Nadav Lavi, Kobi Jacob Scheim, Moshe Laifenfeld
  • Patent number: 9494217
    Abstract: A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, at least three planetary gear set assemblies, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear set assemblies include first, second and third members. The torque transmitting devices include clutches and brakes actuatable in combinations of three to establish a plurality of forward gear ratios and at least one reverse gear ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, LLC
    Inventor: James M. Hart
  • Patent number: 9493116
    Abstract: A method of alerting a driver of a vehicle is provided. The method includes: receiving alert settings configured by a user through a user interface; and selectively generating an alert pattern for at least one of a haptic alert device, an auditory alert device, and a visual alert device based on the alert settings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Raymond J. Kiefer, Charles A. Green, Donald K. Grimm
  • Patent number: 9494092
    Abstract: A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes an engine air sensor, an engine air prediction module, and an engine actuator module. The engine air sensor measures an engine air parameter at a first rate. The engine air parameter includes at least one of a mass flow rate of air flowing into an intake manifold of an engine, a pressure within the intake manifold, and a mass of air within a cylinder of the engine. The engine air prediction module predicts the engine air parameter at a second rate that is greater than the first rate. The engine actuator module controls an actuator of the engine based on at least one of the measured engine air parameter and the predicted engine air parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Zhiping Steven Liu, Gregory P. Matthews, Anthony B. Will
  • Patent number: 9494232
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a transmission range selector connected to a transmission of a powertrain system is described. The transmission range selector indicates one of a plurality of ranges including Park, Reverse, Neutral, and Drive. The method includes, upon detecting a change in a target transmission range, monitoring whether a signal output from an on-board sensor indicates an achieved range position of the transmission. When the signal output from the on-board sensor does not indicate that the target transmission range has been achieved, monitoring a transmission incorrect direction metric, monitoring a transmission unintended propulsion metric, and monitoring a metric associated with achieving the target transmission range. A fault is detected when any one of the transmission incorrect direction metric, the transmission unintended propulsion metric and the target range achievement elapsed time metric is exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Brian A. MacFarlane
  • Patent number: 9493159
    Abstract: A lane centering fusion system including a primary controller determining whether a vehicle is centered within a lane of travel. The primary controller includes a primary lane fusion unit for fusing lane sensed data for identifying a lane center position. A secondary controller determines whether a vehicle is centered within a lane of travel. The secondary controller includes a secondary lane fusion unit for fusing lane sensed data for identifying the lane center position. The primary controller and secondary controller are asynchronous controllers. A lane centering control unit maintains the vehicle centered within the lane of travel. The lane centering control unit utilizes fusion data output from the primary controller for maintaining lane centering control. The lane centering control unit utilizes fusion data output from the secondary controller in response to a detection of a fault with respect to the primary controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Shige Wang, Shuqing Zeng, Xiaofeng Song
  • Patent number: 9493068
    Abstract: A fuel tank assembly comprises a fuel reservoir and a fuel flow control baffle positioned within the fuel reservoir to reduce the fluid energy/momentum of moving fuel. The fuel flow control baffle further comprises a sheet assembly including a first sheet layer and a second sheet layer, perforations defining attenuation channels, extending through said first and second sheet layers through which moving fuel flows into the fuel flow control baffle and a web positioned between the sheet layers to maintain the layers in a separated, three-dimensional relationship, wherein the web operates to absorb the fluid energy/momentum of the moving fuel and to reverse the fuel flow back through the flow attenuation channels. The fuel control baffle can be easily varied in length to permit usage in multiple locations inside the same tank, and in other different tank designs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Fan Li, Stephen D. Sibal, Gordon R. McAllister
  • Patent number: 9493168
    Abstract: A powertrain system is described, including a method for controlling a control variable for an element thereof. The method includes determining an initial state transition threshold and an associated hysteresis band for an operating parameter related to the control variable. The hysteresis band is decayed based upon operation in a present state of the control variable for powertrain element, and a preferred control variable for the powertrain element is selected based upon a comparison of the operating parameter and the initial state transition threshold accounting for the decayed hysteresis band for the operating parameter. The element of the powertrain system is controlled to the preferred state for the control variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Kee Yong Kim, Anthony H. Heap, Jeremy Wise
  • Patent number: 9493063
    Abstract: A control-module implemented method for controlling a powertrain system comprising an internal combustion engine, at least one electric machine, a high-voltage battery and an electro-mechanical transmission operative to transmit torque to a driveline includes monitoring a state of charge (SOC) of a high-voltage battery configured to provide stored electrical power to a first electric machine, a second electric machine and at least one auxiliary load. A trickle-charging event is enabled only when the SOC of the high-voltage battery is less than a first SOC threshold. The trickle-charging event activates the first clutch coupled to a first planetary gear set. The trickle-charging event further coordinates a torque capacity of the activated first clutch and a charging set of torque commands between the engine, the first electric machine and the second electric machine to establish a net zero output torque condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Syed Naqi, Shaun C. Bowman, Anthony H. Heap, Sean W McGrogan
  • Patent number: 9494488
    Abstract: A method to determine a rotational position of a phaser for variable phasing system including a low-resolution rotational position sensing system includes estimating a rotational position of the phaser based upon a time interval between occurrence of a measured position of the phaser and a present periodic timepoint, a commanded position of the phaser, said measured position of the phaser, and a time constant of the variable phasing system when the occurrence of the measured position of the phaser is subsequent to a preceding periodic timepoint occurring at a set time interval prior to the present periodic timepoint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Shifang Li, Jyh-Shin Chen
  • Publication number: 20160327931
    Abstract: A system for offsetting a CNC machining process includes transferring compensation variables through registers in fixed G-code programming of the CNC machine and offsetting the CNC machine without altering fixed G-code programming. Global compensation variables are applied to all feature programs of the CNC machining process, and local compensation variables are applied to only individual features or groups of features. The machine shifts position in response to the compensation variables.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Jie Gu, John S. Agapiou
  • Publication number: 20160327151
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for operating a motor vehicle with a manual transmission and a clutch that can be engage. According to the method, a vehicle standstill condition is detected; and a shifting instruction is output when a vehicle standstill has been detected and a gear position of the transmission determined for the vehicle standstill does not correspond to any transmission position of a predetermined drive-off transmission quantity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Horst BACKES
  • Publication number: 20160326978
    Abstract: A fuel injection strategy and ignition timing for a spark-ignition direct fuel injection engine are selected in response to monitored engine load in relation to a plurality of load regions. This includes selecting a preferred ignition timing based upon the engine load, and selecting a first fuel injection event that is executed post-ignition, wherein the first fuel injection event delivers a set fuel mass at a preset timing relative to the preferred timing for the spark ignition event regardless of the engine load. A first pre-ignition fuel injection event is selected, and includes a second fuel mass being injected at a second fuel injection timing, wherein an end-of-injection timing of the first pre-ignition fuel injection event is at a preset timing relative to the preferred ignition timing regardless of the engine load, and wherein the second fuel mass is determined in relation to the engine load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Arun S. Solomon, Ronald M. Otto
  • Publication number: 20160325696
    Abstract: A self-adjusting latching connection include a first component having a latching projection, and a second component having an opening into which the latching projection can be inserted in a mating direction and latched in a final position on a base, on which one of the two components is movably guided transverse to the mating direction between a resting position and a locking position. A spring acts on the one component in the direction of the resting position, and a bolt detachably fixes the one component in the locking position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2016
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Andreas ROGGE, Alexander MUELLER
  • Patent number: D771528
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Brian J. Smith, Young Sun Kim
  • Patent number: D771529
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Louis D. Thole, Marc A. Mainville, Alexandre Batista Da Silva Henriques
  • Patent number: D771532
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Vladimir Kapitonov