Patents Assigned to GM
  • Patent number: 9436188
    Abstract: System and methods for detecting surge conditions in a compressor system are presented. In some embodiments, a method for detecting surge conditions may include receiving a plurality of flow measurements relating to a flow rate through the compressor system. Amplitude calculations may be performed based on at least one of the plurality of flow measurements to identify a possible surge condition. Frequency calculations may also be performed to identify a possible surge condition. A surge condition may be detected based on the results of the amplitude calculation and the frequency calculation and, in response, a surge detection control signal may be generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Yanyan Zhang, Joseph Mussro
  • Patent number: 9437863
    Abstract: A surface coating method and a method for reducing irreversible capacity loss of a lithium rich transitional oxide electrode are disclosed herein. In an example of the surface coating method, a dispersion of a lithium rich transitional oxide powder and an oxide precursor or a phosphate precursor in a liquid is formed. The liquid is evaporated. The forming and evaporating steps are carried out in the absence of air to prevent precipitation of the oxide precursor or the phosphate precursor. Hydrolyzation of the oxide precursor or the phosphate precursor is controlled under predetermined conditions, and an intermediate product is formed. The intermediate product is annealed to form an oxide coated lithium rich transitional oxide powder or the phosphate coated lithium rich transitional oxide powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technologies Operations LLC
    Inventors: Qiangfeng Xiao, Mei Cai
  • Publication number: 20160252002
    Abstract: An engine assembly includes a turbocharger and a fluid conduit thermally coupled to the turbocharger such that the coolant flowing through the fluid conduit can extract heat from the turbocharger. The engine assembly further includes an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system and a second fluid conduit thermally coupled to the EGR system such that the coolant flowing through the second fluid conduit can extract heat from the EGR system. The engine assembly also includes an engine head defining a coolant gallery extending therethrough. The coolant gallery is in fluid communication with the first fluid conduit and the second fluid conduit. Further, the engine assembly includes an exhaust manifold integrated with the engine head. The coolant gallery is thermally coupled to the exhaust manifold such that the coolant flowing through the coolant gallery can extract heat from the exhaust manifold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2015
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Akram R. Zahdeh
  • Publication number: 20160251111
    Abstract: A pallet assembly and a lid apparatus for the pallet assembly include a first lid segment and a second lid segment selectively cooperating with each other. The lid segments each include an outer edge and an inner edge spaced in an opposing relationship. The inner edges of the lid segments are configured to face each other. The first lid segment includes a first locking feature disposed proximal to the inner edge of the first lid segment and the second lid segment includes a second locking feature disposed proximal to the inner edge of the second lid segment. The lid segments are movable between an engaged position in which the locking features engage each other to secure the lid segments together to define a complete lid, and a disengaged position in which the locking features disengage from each other to separate the lid segments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Neal A. Lewis
  • Publication number: 20160252028
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes an aftertreatment device, an injector for injecting fuel into a cylinder and an Electronic Control Unit configured to perform a regeneration process of the aftertreatment device. The regeneration process includes determining a nominal fuel quantity to be injected by an after-injection; monitoring a temperature value of the aftertreatment device; determining a fuel quantity correction value, as a function of a difference between the monitored temperature value and a target temperature value of the aftertreatment device; correcting the nominal fuel quantity value, using the fuel quantity correction value, in order to determine a corrected fuel quantity value; performing a fuel injection cycle including a plurality of after-injections; and injecting the corrected fuel quantity value into the cylinder during one of the after-injections of the cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Andrea DUTTO, Giorgio NATI, Andrea DE FILIPPO, Cristian TAIBI, Adele DE DOMENICO
  • Publication number: 20160250927
    Abstract: An electrified powertrain system for a vehicle includes an electric machine coupled to a driveline. An inverter controller communicates directly with an auxiliary power module. An ignition module indicates either a key-on state or a key-off state. When the ignition module is in a key-off state, a low-power DC/DC converter generates an output voltage originating on the high-voltage DC bus having a magnitude sufficient to activate the inverter controller. The inverter controller detects a key-off uncontrolled generator (UCG) mode. The inverter controller directly communicates detection of the key-off UCG mode to the auxiliary power module. The inverter controller controls the inverter. The auxiliary power module supplies electric power to operate low-voltage electrically-powered powertrain actuators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Konking (Michael) Wang, Aniket Kothari, William T. Ivan, Steven V. Wybo, Ying Tan, Michael M. Gandham
  • Publication number: 20160252001
    Abstract: An engine assembly includes a turbocharger and a fluid conduit. The fluid conduit is thermally coupled to the turbocharger such that the coolant flowing through the fluid conduit can extract heat from the turbocharger. The engine assembly includes a surge tank and an engine head defining a coolant gallery. Further, the engine assembly includes an exhaust manifold integrated with the engine head. The coolant gallery is thermally coupled to the exhaust manifold such that the coolant can extract heat from the exhaust manifold. The engine assembly further includes a coolant manifold in fluid communication with the fluid conduit and the coolant gallery. The coolant manifold defines a venting orifice in fluid communication with the surge tank. Further, the coolant manifold defines a joint passageway in fluid communication with the fluid conduit. Moreover, the coolant manifold defines an interconnection passageway fluidly interconnecting the joint passageway and the coolant gallery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2015
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Akram R. Zahdeh, Steven M. Yocum
  • Publication number: 20160254533
    Abstract: The manufacture of electrode members for lithium-ion electrochemical cells and batteries is more efficient using an atmospheric plasma stream in carrying, heating, and directing current collector and electrode materials for deposition on thin sheet substrates. Particles of conductive metals are heated and partially melted in the plasma and deposited as current collector films for active electrodes (and reference electrodes) at relatively low temperatures (<100° C.) on separator sheets. Particles of lithium-ion accepting and releasing electrode materials are combined with smaller portions of conductive metals for plasma heating and deposition on current collector layers in forming positive and negative electrodes for lithium-ion cells. Such use of the atmospheric plasma avoids the need for the use of organic binders and wet deposition practices in electrode layer manufacture, and enables the deposition of thicker, lower stress layers of active electrode materials for higher cell capacity and power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Xiaohong Q. Gayden
  • Patent number: 9432828
    Abstract: A system and method for providing emergency vehicle services is provided. The method includes detecting an emergency condition including a vehicle crash and/or rollover, determining if a vehicle telematics unit is available, and initiating an emergency communication using one or more wireless devices present in the vehicle if the vehicle telematics unit is unavailable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Thomas H. Tu, Thomas J. Stacey, Daniel R. Saylor
  • Patent number: 9429058
    Abstract: A selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system includes an exhaust pipe for receiving an exhaust gas from an engine. A selective catalytic reduction (SCR) unit is provided downstream of the exhaust pipe. A first mixing element including a meshed body defines a first surface, a second surface, and a plurality of openings extending from the first surface to the second surface. The first surface and second surface are parallel to each other and define an angle relative to a flow direction of the exhaust flow. The angle is less than 90 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Charles E. Solbrig, Chandrashekhar Joshi, Sherif H. El Tahry, Venkata Subbareddy Kasa
  • Patent number: 9429650
    Abstract: A vehicle obstacle detection system includes an imaging system for capturing objects in a field of view and a radar device for sensing objects in a substantially same field of view. The substantially same field of view is partitioned into an occupancy grid having a plurality of observation cells. A fusion module receives radar data from the radar device and imaging data from the imaging system. The fusion module projects the occupancy grid and associated radar data onto the captured image. The fusion module extracts features from each corresponding cell using sensor data from the radar device and imaging data from the imaging system. A primary classifier determines whether an extracted feature extracted from a respective observation cell is an obstacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS
    Inventors: Shuqing Zeng, Wende Zhang, Bakhtiar Brian Litkouhi
  • Patent number: 9430220
    Abstract: A method of re-programming flash memory of a computing device is presented here. Software content having a plurality of software modules can be re-programmed by identifying, from the software modules, a first set of software modules to be programmed by delta programming and a second set of software modules to be programmed by non-delta programming. A first set of sectors of the flash memory is assigned for programming the first set of software modules, and a second set of sectors is assigned for programming the second set of software modules. At least some of the second set of sectors are designated as temporary backup memory space. The first set of sectors is programmed with the first set of software modules, using delta programming and the designated temporary backup memory space. After programming the first set of sectors, the second set of sectors is programmed with the second set of software modules, using non-delta programming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Alan D. Wist, Ansaf I. Alrabady
  • Patent number: 9428062
    Abstract: A method and system are provided for updating a duty cycle for a power converter. The system and method operate the power converter to compute a first duty cycle during a first pulse-width modulation period and updating a second duty cycle for a second pulse-width modulation period at the completion of the first pulse-width modulation period. Next a third duty cycle for a third previous pulse-width modulation period is updated at the completion of the first pulse-width modulation period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Ray M. Ransom
  • Patent number: 9428108
    Abstract: A vehicle environment monitoring system is disclosed which includes a people detection unit for detecting the presence of people in the environment of a vehicle and a danger signaler for generating danger signals of at least one first kind. A decision unit for deciding on the generation of a danger signal of the first kind when detecting a person by means of the people detection unit in dependence of the visibility of the person for the driver of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Johannes Huth, Gerald Schmidt
  • Patent number: 9428123
    Abstract: An elastically averaged alignment and retention system includes a first component having a first alignment member and an elastically deformable alignment and retention element, and a second component having a second alignment member and an alignment and retention feature. The first alignment member includes an electrical wiring harness, the elastically deformable alignment and retention element includes a hollow tube, the second alignment member includes a support for the electrical wiring harness, and the alignment and retention feature includes an aperture. The elastically deformable alignment and retention element is configured and disposed to interferingly, deformably and matingly engage the alignment and retention feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Steven E. Morris, Jennifer P. Lawall
  • Patent number: 9431688
    Abstract: An exemplary system and method for use in cold environments in order to heat a high voltage vehicle battery, such as the type commonly found in hybrid vehicles. Some high voltage vehicle batteries—like those based on lithium-ion chemistries—perform better when their battery temperature is in a certain temperature range. In an exemplary embodiment, a battery heating system includes a switch, a battery heater and a high voltage vehicle battery, and initially uses electrical power from an external power source to heat the battery and then uses electrical power from an internal power source to heat the battery. The switch determines which power source is used to heat the battery, and may be dictated by whether the battery heating system is plugged into the external power source and/or a vehicle propulsion system is active, to cite several possibilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan R. Schwarz, Thomas K. Dye, Ian L. Hanna, Gregory E. Smith
  • Patent number: 9428135
    Abstract: A number of variations may include a front center airbag system comprising: a first airbag mounted on an inboard side of a first front seat and a second airbag mounted on an inboard side of a second front seat, wherein the first airbag and the second airbag are constructed and arranged so that in a deployment condition the first airbag and the second airbag fill a space between and partially forward of the first front seat and the second front seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, TK Holdings Inc.
    Inventors: Scott D. Thomas, Richard Wiik
  • Patent number: 9430677
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for managing static memory associated with software of an embedded system. The method includes performing one or more steps on one or more processors. The steps include selectively assigning memory objects to static memory segments based on access of the memory object by the software; managing data of the memory segments based on the assigning; and selectively restoring the data of the memory segments based on the managing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBLA TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Dipankar Das
  • Patent number: 9430944
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for participative sensing of events and conditions by road vehicles, collection of this data from a large number of road vehicles by a central server, processing the data to identify events and conditions which may be of interest to other vehicles in a particular location, and sending notifications of the events and conditions to vehicles. A large number of vehicles use participative sensing systems to identify a safety-related event or condition which should be reported to the central server—such as a large pothole, an obstacle in the roadway, an icy road surface, a traffic accident, etc. The central server stores and aggregates the data, filters it and ages it. Vehicles requesting advisories from the central server will receive notices of safety-related events and conditions based on their location and heading. Driver warnings can be issued, and vehicle systems may respond to the notices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Donald K. Grimm, Fan Bai, Rozalina Ebrahimian
  • Patent number: D765284
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jeasoo Kim, Phillip A. Zak, Jr.