Patents Assigned to GM
  • Publication number: 20160129747
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a support structure component for connecting a spring strut to a vehicle body. The support structure component includes a connection section for connecting to the vehicle body and at least one flange section having a spring strut mount configured to mount a spring strut. In this manner, the support structure component can be used for assembling the spring strut into the vehicle body without requiring significant access from above.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Udo MILDNER, Lothar TESKE
  • Publication number: 20160129851
    Abstract: A control panel realized in the form of a touchscreen is arranged on an inner side of a vehicle door. The control panel can be switched over between at least two display modes. The touchscreen displays a first control element for controlling a first actuator of the vehicle in the first control mode and a second control element for controlling a second actuator, which is dissimilar from the first actuator, in the second control mode. The control panel may include a touchscreen of a smartphone device operably positioned in a recess formed in qn interior trim panel of the vehicle door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2015
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Matthias WERNER
  • Publication number: 20160129936
    Abstract: A method of controlling steering of a vehicle through setting wheel angles of a plurality of modular electronic corner assemblies (eModules) is provided. The method includes receiving a driving mode selected from a mode selection menu. A position of a steering input device is determined in a master controller. A velocity of the vehicle is determined, in the master controller, when the determined position of the steering input device is near center. A drive mode request corresponding to the selected driving mode to the plurality of steering controllers is transmitted to the master controller. A required steering angle of each of the plurality of eModules is determined, in the master controller, as a function of the determined position of the steering input device, the determined velocity of the vehicle, and the selected first driving mode. The eModules are set to the respective determined steering angles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2016
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Applicants: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC, The U.S.A. As Represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Andrew D. Dawson, William J. Bluethmann, Chunhao J. Lee, Robert L. Vitale, Raymond Guo, Venkata Prasad Atluri
  • Patent number: 9337558
    Abstract: An electrical system includes an alternating current (AC) connector rod assembly and a polyphase electric machine. The electric machine has a plurality of phase leads each electrically connected to the AC connector rod assembly. The assembly includes spaced AC connector rods each having a center axis. The assembly also includes insulating housings and a carrier plate defining through holes that receive and space the AC connector rods. The carrier plate defines features that engage mating features of the insulating housings while allowing each of the rods to rotate about its respective center axis within the carrier plate. A vehicle includes a direct current (DC) battery pack, a DC bus, an AC bus, a PIM that is electrically connected on a first side to the DC bus and on a second side to the AC bus, the AC connector rod assembly, a traction motor, and a transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Young M Doo, Jimmy M Chang, Anthony P. Tata, Mark D. Korich, Robert T. Dawsey
  • Patent number: 9336574
    Abstract: Method for applying super-resolution to images captured by a camera device of a vehicle includes receiving a plurality of image frames captured by the camera device. For each image frame, a region of interest is identified within the image frame requiring resolution related to detail per pixel to be increased. Spatially-implemented super-resolution is applied to the region of interest within each image to enhance image sharpness within the region of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Wende Zhang, Jinsong Wang, Kent S. Lybecker, Jeffrey S. Piasecki, Ryan M. Frakes, Travis S. Hester
  • Patent number: 9335241
    Abstract: A monitoring system is configured for monitoring a property of a fluid. The monitoring system includes a vessel and a monitoring capsule. The vessel is configured for holding a volume of the fluid therein. The monitoring capsule is configured for disposition within the vessel. The monitoring capsule includes a housing, a hydrometer, and a sensor. The hydrometer is movably disposed within the housing. The hydrometer is configured to measure the property of the fluid. The sensor is operatively attached to the housing and configured to sense the measured property of the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Jerry D. Loman
  • Patent number: 9333994
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle body arranged in a body plane and having a longitudinal body axis. The vehicle also has a first vehicle body end configured to face oncoming ambient airflow when the vehicle is in motion relative to a road surface. The vehicle additionally includes a spoiler assembly. The spoiler assembly includes a wing-shaped body arranged along a spoiler axis that is parallel to the body plane and configured to control a movement of the ambient airflow along the longitudinal body axis. The spoiler assembly also includes a stanchion connecting the wing-shaped body to the vehicle body. The spoiler assembly additionally includes a mechanism configured to rotate the wing-shaped body to thereby vary an angle of the spoiler axis relative to the longitudinal body axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Jason D. Fahland
  • Patent number: 9337494
    Abstract: A fuel cell includes a first electrode and a second electrode with an ion conducting polymer membrane positioned between these electrodes. The fuel cell further comprises a first OER catalyst-containing ionic layer positioned between the first electrode and the ion conducting polymer membrane. The first OER catalyst-containing layer includes an OER catalyst-containing compound, an ion conducting polymer and carbon. Characteristically, the weight ratio of ion conducting polymer to carbon is from about 10 to about 100. A method for forming the fuel cell is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Jingxin Zhang, Jeanette E. Owejan
  • Patent number: 9333833
    Abstract: A connectivity device is provided. The connectivity device includes at least one network transceiver that communicates with a vehicle network. At least one wireless communication module communicates with a remote device. A message manager module manages communications between the at least one network transceiver and the at least one wireless communication module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Amanda J. Kalhous, Norman J. Weigert, Jarvis Chau, Michael J. Chappell
  • Patent number: 9333927
    Abstract: A vehicle has a support structure, on which at least one wall element bounding a passenger cell and a luminous display instrument covered by the wall element are fastened. A light source of the luminous display instrument is positioned in order to shine through a light permeable region of the wall element on a part of its extent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Erol Mori
  • Patent number: 9333453
    Abstract: An air filter comprises a rigid, hollow body that may be spherical, cylindrical, rectangular or shaped to conform to available, typically underhood, space. If spherical, it may be assembled from a first, lower hemisphere and a second, upper hemisphere which are secured together about their edges, by, for example a press or interference fit, an O-ring received within complementary, edge adjacent channels, an adhesive or autogenous bonding. Other shapes and configurations may be assembled from a body with, for example, a solid bottom and attachable lid, top or cover. The hollow body is filled with activated carbon filter media or passive fibrous filter media. The upper hemisphere, lid or cover includes an outlet and cap which reduces the possibility of ingesting water into the filter. The lower hemisphere or body includes an inlet fitting to which a hose leading to an outlet or vent in the powertrain component is attached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, LLC
    Inventor: Kenneth C. Tesner
  • Patent number: 9334766
    Abstract: A lubrication system for an internal combustion engine includes an oil jet configured to communicate oil onto an internal engine surface. The oil jet is fluidly connected to a pressurized oil source via an oil flow controller that is configured to control oil flowrate to the oil jet in response to a temperature of the internal engine surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Gregory Mordukhovich
  • Patent number: 9333845
    Abstract: A power distribution unit for a vehicle includes a fuel cell stack, a bracket connected to the fuel cell stack and including at least one mount adapted to be connected directly to a vehicle to directly interconnect the fuel cell stack to the vehicle, a connection feature, and a traction system communicated with the fuel cell stack and carried by at least one of the fuel cell stack and the bracket with the connection feature disposed between the traction system and said at least one of the fuel cell stack and the bracket so that the traction system is indirectly connected to the vehicle. In one implementation, the connection feature includes an elastomeric pad disposed between a housing of the traction system and a mount or the vehicle frame. The pad provides a so-called “soft mount” of the traction system to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Franz Winter, Reiner Essinger, Thomas Vogel, Michael J. Gorman
  • Patent number: 9333451
    Abstract: A number of variations may include a product comprising a dump-able filter comprising: a filter body; a filter assembly, wherein the filter assembly is seated in the filter body; and a filter cap, wherein the filter cap attaches to the filter body and encloses at least a portion of the filter assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Stoneridge, Inc.
    Inventors: Karen E. Lay, Robert J. Steinman
  • Patent number: 9334774
    Abstract: An engine control system includes an injection determination module and an injection regulation module. The injection determination module determines a desired rate of hydrocarbon (HC) injection into exhaust gas produced by an engine for regeneration of a particulate matter (PM) filter. The injection regulation module increases a rate of HC injection from a first rate to the desired rate during a predetermined period before regeneration of the PM filter, wherein the predetermined period is based on a difference between a predetermined temperature and a temperature at an outlet of an oxidation catalyst (OC).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Julian C. Tan, John Zeilstra, Christoph Thoele, Gustavo Tepedino
  • Patent number: 9338920
    Abstract: A mounting device is provided for attaching a mechanical, electrical and/or electronic module to the vehicle window pane. The mounting device includes, but is not limited to a front side and a rear side and at least one laterally springy pin opening. The pin opening can receive a pin element that is designed to attach the mounting device with its front side to the vehicle window pane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Siegfried Eidt
  • Patent number: 9337484
    Abstract: One embodiment includes a battery cell electrode having a first material constructed and arranged to be charged and discharged and having a first potential versus state of charge relationship; a second material having a second potential versus state of charge relationship; wherein said second material is constructed and arranged to become active to transfer ions at a selected state of charge level to produce an observable change in measured potential from said first to said second potential versus relationship, and wherein the amount of the second material ranges from about 2 to about 30 weight percent of the battery cell electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Mark W. Verbrugge, Ping Liu, Elena Sherman
  • Patent number: 9334811
    Abstract: An engine control method for a vehicle includes: determining a crankshaft angle where a predetermined percentage of fuel injected into a cylinder was combusted during homogenous charge compression ignition (HCCI) operation of an engine; determining a valve closing timing adjustment for one of an intake valve and an exhaust valve of based on the crankshaft angle; generating a valve closing timing for the one of the intake valve and the exhaust valve of the cylinder based on the valve closing timing adjustment; and closing the one of the intake valve and the exhaust valve of the cylinder based on the valve closing timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Joel Cowgill
  • Patent number: 9335178
    Abstract: A method that utilizes high-definition street level images provided by a network of stationary traffic cameras to identify potential hazards or concerns located beyond the range of vehicle mounted devices, and to provide an advanced warning or to take some other remedial action in response thereto. In one embodiment, the method uses multiple items taken from the street level images to corroborate a potential concern before saving that concern to a concern profile where the concern is linked or otherwise associated with a particular geographic zone. By taking remedial actions well in advance of a potential concern, the method provides more opportunity to adjust or otherwise address the potential concern, which can be particularly advantageous when the host vehicle is being operated in an automated driving mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: James N. Nickolaou
  • Patent number: 9333954
    Abstract: A driver assistance system and method are disclosed which provide improved determination of possible collision objects. The system includes at least one sensor and a classification device. The threshold value of the classification device for classifying an object sensed by the at least one sensor as a possible collision object is lowered when a possible hazard situation in a region of surrounding located in front of the motor vehicle is determined based on data received from an inter-vehicular communication device. As a result, hazard situations which may not yet be determined by means of sensors belonging to conventional vehicles because of the distance or the position of the possible hazard situation with respect to the motor vehicle can be detected earlier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Tobias Schneider