Patents by Inventor Chen-Fang Chang
Chen-Fang Chang 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: 11247571Abstract: An energy management system for a vehicle is disclosed. The vehicle includes one or more power sources configured to provide power to one or more recipients. The system includes a controller configured to determine an arbitration vector based at least partially on a state vector and an initial transformation function. The arbitration vector is determined as one or more points for which the initial transformation function attains a maximum value. The controller is configured to determine a current reward based on the arbitration vector and the state vector, the current reward being configured to minimize energy loss in the power sources. The controller is configured to determine an updated transformation function based at least partially on the initial transformation function and a total reward. The controller is configured to arbitrate a power distribution based in part on the updated arbitration vector.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2019Date of Patent: February 15, 2022Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Ibrahim Haskara, Bharatkumar Hegde, Insu Chang, Chen-Fang Chang
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Publication number: 20210370969Abstract: A control system of a vehicle includes: a target speed module configured to, using a parametric driver model and based on first driver parameters, second driver parameters, and vehicle parameters, determine a target vehicle speed trajectory for a future predetermined period; a driver parameters module configured to determine the first driver parameters based on conditions within a predetermined distance in front of the vehicle; and a control module configured to adjust at least one actuator of the vehicle based on the target vehicle speed trajectory and a present vehicle speed.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2020Publication date: December 2, 2021Inventors: Bharatkumar HEGDE, Junfeng ZHAO, Lung En JAN, Chen-fang CHANG, Ragunathan RAJKUMAR
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Patent number: 11167759Abstract: Operating a subject vehicle equipped with an adaptive cruise control system includes setting initial states for control parameters, including setting a desired vehicle speed and determining a desired following gap range, wherein the desired following gap range is associated with a lead vehicle. Operation is controlled via the adaptive cruise control system based upon the initial states for the control parameters. Operation also includes monitoring for presence of the lead vehicle. Upon detecting presence of the lead vehicle, an actual following gap is determined between the subject vehicle and the lead vehicle, and the initial states of the control parameters associated with the adaptive cruise control system are adjusted based upon the actual following gap between the subject vehicle and the lead vehicle, and the desired following gap range. Operation is controlled via the adaptive cruise control system based upon the adjusted initial states of the control parameters.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2019Date of Patent: November 9, 2021Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Junfeng Zhao, Yiran Hu, Dongxu Li, Steven E. Muldoon, Chen-Fang Chang
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Patent number: 11120646Abstract: A fault diagnostic system includes: memory including a fault model, the fault model including: a plurality of failure modes of a vehicle; and symptoms respectively associated with each of the failure modes; an updating module configured to: based on a data set, determine a new failure mode that is not already included in the fault model and new symptoms indicative of the occurrence of the new failure mode; modify the fault model by: adding the new failure mode to the fault model; and adding the new symptoms to the fault model in association with the new failure mode; and re-save the fault model in the memory.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2019Date of Patent: September 14, 2021Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Shiming Duan, Chaitanya Sankavaram, Azeem Sarwar, Ibrahim Haskara, Chunhao J. Lee, Chen-fang Chang
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Publication number: 20210146790Abstract: An energy management system for a vehicle is disclosed. The vehicle includes one or more power sources configured to provide power to one or more recipients. The system includes a controller configured to determine an arbitration vector based at least partially on a state vector and an initial transformation function. The arbitration vector is determined as one or more points for which the initial transformation function attains a maximum value. The controller is configured to determine a current reward based on the arbitration vector and the state vector, the current reward being configured to minimize energy loss in the power sources. The controller is configured to determine an updated transformation function based at least partially on the initial transformation function and a total reward. The controller is configured to arbitrate a power distribution based in part on the updated arbitration vector.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2019Publication date: May 20, 2021Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Ibrahim Haskara, Bharatkumar Hegde, Insu Chang, Chen-Fang Chang
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Patent number: 10988130Abstract: A method for controlling continuous and discrete actuators (e.g., modes) in a powertrain system includes receiving preview information from a sensor(s) describing an upcoming dynamic state at a future time point, and providing control inputs for the actuators to a controller that includes the preview information. The input set collectively describes a future torque or speed output state at the future time point. The controller processes the input set via a dynamical predictive model, in real time, to determine control solutions to take at the present time point for implementing the dynamic state at the future time point. A lowest opportunity cost control solution is determined and optimized. The controller executes the optimized solution at the present time step.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2019Date of Patent: April 27, 2021Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Ibrahim Haskara, Chen-fang Chang
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Patent number: 10983029Abstract: A method of detecting misfire in a combustion engine of a motor vehicle engine includes measuring a speed of a crankshaft, calculating a modal coefficient for each cylinder of the combustion engine, and indicating a misfire for at least one of the cylinders based on the calculation of the modal coefficients.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2018Date of Patent: April 20, 2021Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Yongjie Zhu, Jun-mo Kang, Chen-fang Chang, David J. Brooks
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Publication number: 20210061278Abstract: A method for controlling automated driving operations of a vehicle includes determining vehicle origin and destination data, and generating a graphical representation of a road network with multiple candidate routes between the vehicle's origin and destination. Road-level data, including speed, turn angle, and/or gradient data, is received for each candidate route, and respective total energy uses are estimated for the vehicle to traverse across the candidate routes. Multiple candidate driving strategies, each having respective speed and acceleration profiles, are determined for the candidate route with the lowest estimated total energy use. An optimal candidate driving strategy is selected through a cost evaluation of the associated speed and acceleration profiles and forward movement simulations of the vehicle over a prediction horizon.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 4, 2019Publication date: March 4, 2021Applicants: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC, Carnegie Mellon UniversityInventors: Junfeng Zhao, Chen-fang Chang, Bharatkumar Hegde, Insu Chang, Ragunathan Rajkumar
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Publication number: 20210016626Abstract: An air conditioning system for a vehicle includes a compressor, a condenser fluidically connected to the compressor, an evaporator fluidically connected to the compressor and the condenser, an air moving device positioned to direct a flow of air over the evaporator, a route planning module that provides route planning for the vehicle between a first point and a destination, and an air conditioning controller operatively connected to the compressor, the air moving device, the air conditioning controller including a processor and a non-volatile memory, the processor being operable to deactivate the compressor at a selected point before the vehicle reaches the destination.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 15, 2019Publication date: January 21, 2021Inventors: Insu Chang, Chen-fang Chang, Jun-mo Kang
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Publication number: 20200372729Abstract: A fault diagnostic system includes: memory including a fault model, the fault model including: a plurality of failure modes of a vehicle; and symptoms respectively associated with each of the failure modes; an updating module configured to: based on a data set, determine a new failure mode that is not already included in the fault model and new symptoms indicative of the occurrence of the new failure mode; modify the fault model by: adding the new failure mode to the fault model; and adding the new symptoms to the fault model in association with the new failure mode; and re-save the fault model in the memory.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2019Publication date: November 26, 2020Inventors: Shiming DUAN, Chaitanya Sankavaram, Azeem Sarwar, Ibrahim Haskara, Chunhao J. Lee, Chen-fang Chang
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Publication number: 20200324766Abstract: Operating a subject vehicle equipped with an adaptive cruise control system includes setting initial states for control parameters, including setting a desired vehicle speed and determining a desired following gap range, wherein the desired following gap range is associated with a lead vehicle. Operation is controlled via the adaptive cruise control system based upon the initial states for the control parameters. Operation also includes monitoring for presence of the lead vehicle. Upon detecting presence of the lead vehicle, an actual following gap is determined between the subject vehicle and the lead vehicle, and the initial states of the control parameters associated with the adaptive cruise control system are adjusted based upon the actual following gap between the subject vehicle and the lead vehicle, and the desired following gap range. Operation is controlled via the adaptive cruise control system based upon the adjusted initial states of the control parameters.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2019Publication date: October 15, 2020Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Junfeng Zhao, Yiran Hu, Dongxu Li, Steven E. Muldoon, Chen-Fang Chang
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Publication number: 20200223423Abstract: A method for controlling continuous and discrete actuators (e.g., modes) in a powertrain system includes receiving preview information from a sensor(s) describing an upcoming dynamic state at a future time point, and providing control inputs for the actuators to a controller that includes the preview information. The input set collectively describes a future torque or speed output state at the future time point. The controller processes the input set via a dynamical predictive model, in real time, to determine control solutions to take at the present time point for implementing the dynamic state at the future time point. A lowest opportunity cost control solution is determined and optimized. The controller executes the optimized solution at the present time step.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2019Publication date: July 16, 2020Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Ibrahim Haskara, Chen-fang Chang
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Publication number: 20200224601Abstract: A method of diagnosing a propulsion system implements a top-down hierarchical examination procedure, in which the propulsion system is analyzed as a whole to determine if the propulsion system is healthy. Data from a first set of vehicle sensors is compared to a system-healthy data cluster to determine if the propulsion system is healthy or unhealthy. If the propulsion system is unhealthy, then a plurality of subsystems of the propulsion system are each analyzed at a first examination level using selective data from the sensors to identify one of the subsystems as an unhealthy subsystem. A plurality of component systems of the unhealthy subsystem are then analyzed at a second examination level using other selective data from the sensors to identify one of the component systems of the unhealthy subsystem as an unhealthy component system.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 15, 2019Publication date: July 16, 2020Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Ibrahim Haskara, Chen-fang Chang, Shiming Duan, Chunhao J. Lee, Azeem Sarwar
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Patent number: 10676088Abstract: A system and method are provided for operating a powertrain control system. The method includes receiving data measured from a plurality of sensors, the measured data relating to distance dependent speed values, and receiving information from one or more vehicle modules, the vehicle module information relating to distance independent speed values. The method further includes building a speed trajectory profile for a horizon window that includes a plurality of speed change regions represented by at least some distance dependent speed values or at least some distance independent speed values, and creating a synthesized speed profile for the horizon window by processing the speed trajectory profile. The synthesized speed profile optimizes efficiency of the powertrain control system at each of the plurality of speed change regions.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2018Date of Patent: June 9, 2020Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Yiran Hu, Junfeng Zhao, Steven E. Muldoon, Chen-Fang Chang
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Publication number: 20200110004Abstract: A method of detecting misfire in a combustion engine of a motor vehicle engine includes measuring a speed of a crankshaft, calculating a modal coefficient for each cylinder of the combustion engine, and indicating a misfire for at least one of the cylinders based on the calculation of the modal coefficients.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2018Publication date: April 9, 2020Inventors: Yongjie Zhu, Jun-mo Kang, Chen-fang Chang, David J. Brooks
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Publication number: 20200089241Abstract: Presented are intelligent vehicle systems and control logic for predictive route planning and adaptive control, methods for manufacturing/operating such systems, and motor vehicles with real-time eco-routing and automated driving capabilities. A method for controlling operation of a vehicle includes determining vehicle origin and destination information, and identifying candidate routes for traversing from the origin to the destination. Road-level data, including speed and topology data, is received for each candidate route. Total energy uses are estimated for propelling the vehicle from the origin to the destination across each of the candidate routes. This estimating includes evaluating respective road-level data of each candidate route against a memory-stored table that correlates energy consumption to speed, turn angle, and/or gradient.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2018Publication date: March 19, 2020Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Chi-Kuan Kao, Steven E. Muldoon, Chen-Fang Chang, Edward Gundlach
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Patent number: 10550786Abstract: A method controls multiple continuous actuators to achieve a discrete mode of operation in a system. The method may include determining a desired output state of the system, including processing a control input set for the multiple continuous actuators via a dynamical predictive model of the system, and then processing the control input set via the dynamical predictive model to determine possible control solutions for achieving the desired output state of the system at a calibrated future time point. The method may include using a cost function logic block to identify, from among the possible control solutions, a lowest-cost control solution for executing the discrete mode at the future time point, processing the lowest-cost control solution through a real-time optimization logic block to determine an optimized solution for the discrete mode, and then executing the optimized solution at the future time point.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2018Date of Patent: February 4, 2020Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Ibrahim Haskara, Chen-fang Chang
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Publication number: 20190375403Abstract: A system and method are provided for operating a powertrain control system. The method includes receiving data measured from a plurality of sensors, the measured data relating to distance dependent speed values, and receiving information from one or more vehicle modules, the vehicle module information relating to distance independent speed values. The method further includes building a speed trajectory profile for a horizon window that includes a plurality of speed change regions represented by at least some distance dependent speed values or at least some distance independent speed values, and creating a synthesized speed profile for the horizon window by processing the speed trajectory profile. The synthesized speed profile optimizes efficiency of the powertrain control system at each of the plurality of speed change regions.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2018Publication date: December 12, 2019Inventors: Yiran Hu, Junfeng Zhao, Steven E. Muldoon, Chen-Fang Chang
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Patent number: 10458349Abstract: A method of start/stop engine control based on vehicle location and driving situation includes identifying the location and driving situation of a host vehicle, and classifying the location and the driving situation of the host vehicle based on the identified location and driving situation. The engine start/stop control is based on at least one of the location classification and driving situation classification.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2017Date of Patent: October 29, 2019Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Yiran Hu, Chen-fang Chang, Scott J. Chynoweth, Douglas R Verner, Feilong Liu
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Publication number: 20190178183Abstract: A method of start/stop engine control based on vehicle location and driving situation includes identifying the location and driving situation of a host vehicle, and classifying the location and the driving situation of the host vehicle based on the identified location and driving situation. The engine start/stop control is based on at least one of the location classification and driving situation classification.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2017Publication date: June 13, 2019Inventors: Yiran Hu, Chen-fang Chang, Scott J. Chynoweth, Douglas R. Verner, Feilong Liu