Patents by Inventor ALEXANDER N. BALLIOS
ALEXANDER N. BALLIOS has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 10220727Abstract: An improved system and method for controlling a moveable object associated with a mobile platform are provided. The provided system and method generates an application specific protected volume between the moveable object and a feature of the mobile platform to be protected. The provided system and method use magnetic sensing techniques to sense the moveable object when it infringes upon the protected volume, and provide control of the moveable object responsive to sensed infringement.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2016Date of Patent: March 5, 2019Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: William Otto, Alexander N. Ballios
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Publication number: 20180111509Abstract: An improved system and method for controlling a moveable object associated with a mobile platform are provided. The provided system and method generates an application specific protected volume between the moveable object and a feature of the mobile platform to be protected. The provided system and method use magnetic sensing techniques to sense the moveable object when it infringes upon the protected volume, and provide control of the moveable object responsive to sensed infringement.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2016Publication date: April 26, 2018Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: WILLIAM OTTO, ALEXANDER N. BALLIOS
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Patent number: 9349263Abstract: Methods and vehicles are provided for providing haptic feedback to a vehicle occupant. In one embodiment, the method includes determining at least one of interior conditions and exterior conditions of a vehicle. The vehicle includes a plurality of haptic actuators disposed in a seat. The method further includes calculating at least one of a pulse width modulation (PWM) pattern and an on/off compensation pattern based on the determined interior conditions and exterior conditions. The method further includes generating a signal with active periods that include at least one of the calculated patterns to command the plurality of haptic actuators to produce haptic pulses.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2013Date of Patent: May 24, 2016Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Raymond J. Kiefer, Mark A. Stebbins, Diane K. McQueen, Alexander N. Ballios, Charles A. Green
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Patent number: 9266451Abstract: Haptic feedback systems, vehicle seat assemblies, and vehicles are provided. The haptic feedback system includes a bottom seat member, a first motor, and a second motor. The bottom seat member includes a seat pan with a first side, a second side, a first bolster, and a second bolster. The first bolster is positioned on the first side of the seat pan and the second bolster is positioned on the second side of the seat pan, wherein the first bolster and the second bolster include a resilient material. The first motor supported by the resilient material of the first bolster and the second motor is supported by the resilient material of the second bolster.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2013Date of Patent: February 23, 2016Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Raymond J. Kiefer, Diane K. McQueen, Mark A. Stebbins, Charles A. Green, Alexander N. Ballios
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Patent number: 9153108Abstract: Methods and vehicles are provided for providing haptic feedback to a vehicle occupant. In one embodiment, the method includes selecting a pattern of active haptic periods during which a controller will command a plurality of haptic actuators disposed in a seat of a vehicle to generate haptic pulses, determining a desired voltage of a signal supplied to the haptic actuators that indicates the active haptic periods to generate a desired intensity of haptic pulses, determining an actual voltage of an energy storage device of the vehicle, calculating a pulse width modulation (PWM) pattern that simulates the desired voltage when applied to the signal using the actual voltage, and generating a signal that indicates the active haptic periods based on the PWM pattern to command the haptic actuators to generate the desired intensity of haptic pulses.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2013Date of Patent: October 6, 2015Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Raymond J. Kiefer, Alexander N. Ballios, Charles A. Green, Mark A. Stebbins, Diane K. McQueen
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Patent number: 9123215Abstract: Methods and vehicles are provided for providing haptic feedback to a vehicle occupant. In one embodiment, the method includes evaluating conditions related to a vehicle, selecting a type of haptic alert based on the evaluated conditions, selecting a pattern of haptic actuators to command based on the type of haptic alert and a location of the haptic actuators in a seat of the vehicle, selecting a number of active haptic periods to command based on the type of haptic alert, selecting a duration of the active haptic periods and a duration of inactive haptic periods based on the type of haptic alert, and generating a signal indicating the active haptic periods based on the selected pattern of haptic actuators, the selected number of active haptic periods, and the selected duration of the active and inactive haptic periods.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2013Date of Patent: September 1, 2015Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Raymond J. Kiefer, Charles A. Green, Mark A. Stebbins, Diane K. McQueen, Alexander N. Ballios
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Publication number: 20130342330Abstract: Methods and vehicles are provided for providing haptic feedback to a vehicle occupant. In one embodiment, the method includes selecting a pattern of active haptic periods during which a controller will command a plurality of haptic actuators disposed in a seat of a vehicle to generate haptic pulses, determining a desired voltage of a signal supplied to the haptic actuators that indicates the active haptic periods to generate a desired intensity of haptic pulses, determining an actual voltage of an energy storage device of the vehicle, calculating a pulse width modulation (PWM) pattern that simulates the desired voltage when applied to the signal using the actual voltage, and generating a signal that indicates the active haptic periods based on the PWM pattern to command the haptic actuators to generate the desired intensity of haptic pulses.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2013Publication date: December 26, 2013Inventors: RAYMOND J. KIEFER, ALEXANDER N. BALLIOS, CHARLES A. GREEN, MARK A. STEBBINS, DIANE K. MCQUEEN
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Publication number: 20130342366Abstract: Methods and vehicles are provided for providing haptic feedback to a vehicle occupant. In one embodiment, the method includes determining at least one of interior conditions and exterior conditions of a vehicle. The vehicle includes a plurality of haptic actuators disposed in a seat. The method further includes calculating at least one of a pulse width modulation (PWM) pattern and an on/off compensation pattern based on the determined interior conditions and exterior conditions. The method further includes generating a signal with active periods that include at least one of the calculated patterns to command the plurality of haptic actuators to produce haptic pulses.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2013Publication date: December 26, 2013Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: RAYMOND J. KIEFER, MARK A. STEBBINS, DIANE K. MCQUEEN, ALEXANDER N. BALLIOS, CHARLES A. GREEN
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Publication number: 20130342339Abstract: Methods and vehicles are provided for providing haptic feedback to a vehicle occupant. In one embodiment, the method includes evaluating conditions related to a vehicle, selecting a type of haptic alert based on the evaluated conditions, selecting a pattern of haptic actuators to command based on the type of haptic alert and a location of the haptic actuators in a seat of the vehicle, selecting a number of active haptic periods to command based on the type of haptic alert, selecting a duration of the active haptic periods and a duration of inactive haptic periods based on the type of haptic alert, and generating a signal indicating the active haptic periods based on the selected pattern of haptic actuators, the selected number of active haptic periods, and the selected duration of the active and inactive haptic periods.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2013Publication date: December 26, 2013Inventors: RAYMOND J. KIEFER, CHARLES A. GREEN, MARK A. STEBBINS, DIANE K. MCQUEEN, ALEXANDER N. BALLIOS
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Publication number: 20130341977Abstract: Haptic feedback systems, vehicle seat assemblies, and vehicles are provided. The haptic feedback system includes a bottom seat member, a first motor, and a second motor. The bottom seat member includes a seat pan with a first side, a second side, a first bolster, and a second bolster. The first bolster is positioned on the first side of the seat pan and the second bolster is positioned on the second side of the seat pan, wherein the first bolster and the second bolster include a resilient material. The first motor supported by the resilient material of the first bolster and the second motor is supported by the resilient material of the second bolster.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2013Publication date: December 26, 2013Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: RAYMOND J. KIEFER, DIANE K. MCQUEEN, MARK A. STEBBINS, CHARLES A. GREEN, ALEXANDER N. BALLIOS