Abstract: A rotatable and stowable parcel shelf assembly for a motor vehicle is provided. The parcel shelf assembly may include a parcel shelf body having a first edge and at least one attachment feature configured to attach the parcel shelf body to the vehicle within a cargo area. The parcel shelf body first edge is disposed proximate a partition, which is disposed between the cargo area and a passenger compartment of the vehicle. The parcel shelf body may occupy one of a deployed position and a stowed position, and may be rotatable about the at least one attachment feature in a first direction from the deployed position to the stowed position and in a second direction from the stowed position to the deployed position. The parcel shelf body may be secured in the stowed position to prevent further rotation in the first direction from the stowed position into the cargo area.
Abstract: A fuel tank assembly is fillable by a fuel pump. The fuel pump is configured such that the existence of a predetermined condition causes the pump to stop delivering fuel. The fuel tank assembly includes a tank defining a chamber, a fill tube, and a fuel pump shut-off system. The fill tube defines an opening configured to receive a nozzle of the pump, and a passageway that provides fluid communication between the opening and the chamber to transfer liquid fuel from the nozzle to the chamber. The fuel pump shut-off system is configured to selectively generate the predetermined condition, and is configured such that whether the predetermined condition exists depends on the total volume of liquid fuel in the chamber and the chemical composition of the liquid fuel in the chamber.
Abstract: A device for determining if the absolute mileage of a vehicle has been manipulated is disclosed. The device includes a first sensor to determine a first absolute mileage of the vehicle and a second sensor to determine a second absolute mileage of the vehicle. The first and second sensors differ in terms of the sensor and computing method for determining the first and second absolute mileage. For example, the first sensor may be a convention mileage device and the second sensor may be a GPS-enabled device. A comparator determines a difference between the first and second absolute mileage. If the difference exceeds a prescribed limiting value, the comparator generates a warning signal, and stores this warning signal in the storage device. A display is used to display the first absolute mileage in the vehicle.
Abstract: A torque requesting module generates a first torque request for a spark ignition engine based on driver input. A torque conversion module converts the first torque request into a second torque request. A setpoint module generates setpoints for the spark ignition engine based on the second torque request. A model predictive control (MPC) module: identifies sets of possible target values based on the setpoints; generates predicted parameters based on a model of the spark ignition engine and the sets of possible target values, respectively; selects one of the sets of possible target values based on the predicted parameters; and sets target values based on the possible target values of the selected one of the sets. A first constraint module selectively sets a predetermined range for first one of the target values. The MPC module limits the first one of the target values to within the predetermined range.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 6, 2013
Date of Patent:
August 30, 2016
Assignee:
GM Global Technology Operations LLC
Inventors:
Christopher E. Whitney, Ning Jin, Robert J. Genslak, Jyh-Shin Chen, Kevin C. Wong
Abstract: An engine control system is described. A cylinder control module selectively activates and deactivates intake and exhaust valves of a cylinder of an engine. A fuel control module disables fueling of the cylinder when the intake and exhaust valves of the cylinder are deactivated and, when the intake and exhaust valves of the cylinder are activated after being deactivated for at least one combustion cycle of the cylinder, adjusts fueling of the cylinder based on a predetermined reactivation fueling adjustment set for the cylinder.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 25, 2014
Date of Patent:
August 30, 2016
Assignee:
GM Global Technology Operations LLC
Inventors:
Ben W. Moscherosch, Hector Arvizu Dal Piaz
Abstract: An elastically averaged alignment system includes a first component having first and second alignment features, and a second component having third and fourth elastically deformable alignment elements. The first and second components are laterally slidably engageable with each other. The third elastically deformable alignment element is configured and disposed to interferingly, deformably and matingly engage with the first alignment feature. The fourth elastically deformable alignment element is configured and disposed to interferingly, deformably and matingly engage with the second alignment feature. Portions of the third and fourth elastically deformable alignment elements when engaged with respective ones of the first and second alignment features elastically deform to an elastically averaged final configuration that aligns the first component relative to the second component in six orthogonal directions by averaging the elastic deformation of the respective elastically deformable alignment elements.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 11, 2014
Date of Patent:
August 30, 2016
Assignee:
GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Inventors:
Steven E. Morris, Michael J. Wightman, Jennifer P. Lawall, Gordan N. Noll
Abstract: A system and method for providing path planning and generation for automated lane centering and/or lane changing purposes for a vehicle traveling on a roadway, where the method employs roadway measurement values from a vision camera within an effective range of the camera and roadway measurement values from a map database beyond the range of the camera. The method uses the roadway measurement values from the camera to determine a desired path along a first segment of the roadway and identifies an end of the first segment based on how accurately the camera defines the roadway. The method then uses the roadway measurement values from the map database to determine the desired path along a second segment of the roadway that begins at the end of the first segment, where a transition from the first segment to the second segment is smooth.
Abstract: In one aspect, an elastically averaged alignment system is provided. The system includes a first component having a first alignment member and a second alignment member extending outwardly away from each other, and a second component having an inner wall defining an alignment aperture, the inner wall having a first wall and an opposite second wall. The first and second alignment members are an elastically deformable material such that when the first and second alignment members are inserted into the alignment aperture, the first and second alignment members elastically deform to an elastically averaged final configuration to facilitate aligning the first component with the second component in a desired orientation.
Abstract: A system and method for discharging a high voltage vehicle battery. The system includes a discharge circuit having a reference voltage source providing a reference voltage and a load for discharging the battery. A negative terminal of the voltage source is electrically coupled to a negative terminal of the battery so that upon initiation of the discharging sequence, the battery is discharged through the load to the reference voltage. The discharge circuit can be electrically configured so that the battery, the voltage source and the load are electrically coupled in series or the battery, the voltage source and the load are electrically coupled in parallel.
Abstract: One variation may include a cargo truck which may include one or more cargo latching/locking systems integrated into a body portion of the cargo truck which comprise at least one hoist plate which latches and locks at least one cargo pod to the hoist plate and which may be operatively connected to a hoist system which may raise and lower a hoist platform which may be attached to the hoist plate and a method for doing the same.
Abstract: A flow field plate for fuel cell applications includes an electrically conductive plate having a first surface defining a plurality of channels. An active area section and an inactive area section characterize the flow field channels. A hydrophobic layer is disposed over at least a portion of the inactive area section while a hydrophilic layer is disposed over at least a portion of the active area section.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 27, 2013
Date of Patent:
August 30, 2016
Assignee:
GM Global Technology Operations LLC
Inventors:
Gayatri Vyas Dadheech, Mahmoud H. Abd Elhamid
Abstract: A method and system for recommending applications to users of in-vehicle infotainment systems are disclosed. Application rating data from many road vehicle infotainment system users are collected on a central server, including both explicit ratings and implicit ratings. Implicit ratings may be calculated based on application usage data. The user/application rating data is filtered for relevance, and then analyzed to determine inferred ratings for user/application relationships where no rating exists. The inferred ratings are calculated using both a user-driven consensus rating calculation and an application-driven consensus rating calculation. The inferred ratings, along with optional cyberspace-based external inputs, are used to synthesize application recommendations for users. The synthesized recommendations for application consideration are provided to the appropriate user via downloading from the central server to the infotainment system in the user's vehicle.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 13, 2014
Date of Patent:
August 30, 2016
Assignee:
GM Global Technology Operations LLC
Inventors:
Fan Bai, Donald K. Grimm, Massimo Osella, Leonard C. Nieman, Robert A. Hrabak
Abstract: A method of monitoring a performance level of a battery of a vehicle having an electronic control unit (ECU) includes enabling a charging diagnostic module (CDM) and determining, with the CDM, a charging status of the battery. The method also includes enabling a discharging diagnostic module (DDM) and determining, with the DDM, a discharging status of the battery. The charging status and the discharging status are recorded in a memory location of the ECU.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 21, 2014
Date of Patent:
August 30, 2016
Assignee:
GM Global Technology Operations LLC
Inventors:
Andrew C. Baughman, Daniel P. Grenn, Andrew M. Zettel
Abstract: An interior permanent magnet machine includes a wound stator, and a rotor core defining a plurality of pole cavities. Each of the pole cavities includes a cross section, perpendicular to a central axis of rotation, that defines a cross sectional shape having a centerline. The cross sectional shape of each of the pole cavities includes a radially inner barrier portion, a radially outer barrier portion, and a central portion. The centerline of the cross sectional shape of each of the radially outer barrier portion and the radially inner barrier portion, of each pole cavity, is defined by a generally arcuate segment. The centerline of the cross sectional shape of the central portion, of each pole cavity, is defined by a linear segment. One of a plurality of rare earth magnets, having no heavy rare earth elements, is disposed within the central portion of one of the plurality of pole cavities.
Abstract: A vehicle wiper assembly includes a wiper blade having a length, and an active material disposed along the length of the wiper blade and coupled thereto. The active material includes a shape memory alloy material with a crystallographic phase that is changeable between austenite and martensite, and is elastically deformable and operatively applies a spring force against a portion of the wiper blade when the crystallographic phase is martensite.
Type:
Application
Filed:
May 5, 2016
Publication date:
August 25, 2016
Applicant:
GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Inventors:
Nicholas W. Pinto, IV, Scott R. Webb, Alan L. Browne, Paul W. Alexander, Xiujie Gao, Nancy L. Johnson, Wendell G. Summerville, John A. Cafeo
Abstract: A headlight for a motor vehicle includes at least two light sources and a driver, which is arranged to vary the light intensities of the light sources with a phase shift to one another periodically between a minimum and a maximum and in the course of a period to set intermediate values between the maximum and the minimum. In a phase of the period, in which the first light source reaches the maximum of its light intensity, the light intensity of the second light source is situated at an intermediate value and increases.
Type:
Application
Filed:
February 24, 2016
Publication date:
August 25, 2016
Applicant:
GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Inventors:
Frank LANGKABEL, Rouven HABERKORN, Philipp ROECKL, Michael BACH, Ralph SCHNEIDER, Ingolf SCHNEIDER
Abstract: An onboard electrical system for a motor vehicle includes a storage device with at least one first battery pack and a plurality of electrical loads supplied from the storage device. At least one control unit is configured to control the consumption of electrical energy by the remaining electrical loads. A main switch is controlled by the control unit and an auxiliary switch that can be manually activated, so as to connect the control unit with the first battery pack and activate the control unit to send a close command to the main switch.