Patents by Inventor Dorel M. Sala
Dorel M. Sala 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: 11951935Abstract: A system includes an in-cabin sensor, a seatbelt routing zone module, and a seatbelt routing classification module. The in-cabin sensor is operable to generate an image of an occupant in a vehicle seat. The seatbelt routing zone module is configured to generate a seatbelt routing zone based on at least one of a size of the occupant in the image and a shape of the occupant. The seatbelt routing classification module is configured to determine whether a seatbelt is routed properly around the occupant based on whether the seatbelt is at least partially within the seatbelt routing zone.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2021Date of Patent: April 9, 2024Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Scott D. Thomas, Dorel M. Sala, Joseph Philip McLaine
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Patent number: 11916201Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to motion-generating particles for desulfation of lead-acid batteries, lead-acid batteries including such motion-generating particles, and methods of making and using the same. For example, the present disclosure provides a lead-acid battery including one or more electroactive plates disposed within a casing; an electrolyte disposed within the casing and surrounding the electroactive plates; a plurality of ferromagnetic particles disposed with the electrolyte within the casing; and one or more electromagnets. The one or more electromagnets may be configured to direct a magnetic field towards the electrolyte to selectively cause movement of the plurality of ferromagnetic particles so as to agitate the electrolyte.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2020Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Dorel M. Sala, Mahmoud Abd Elhamid, Dave G. Rich
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Patent number: 11884233Abstract: A method for controlling a passenger restraint system aboard a motor vehicle includes receiving, via a controller, biometric vulnerability classifier signal(s) indicative of vulnerability characteristics of a passenger seated in an interior of the motor vehicle. In response to the biometric vulnerability classifier signal(s) and a detected vehicle event requiring an actuation of the passenger restraint system, the method includes automatically adjusting an actual capacity setting of the passenger restraint system via the controller. A motor vehicle includes a vehicle body defining a vehicle interior, a passenger restraint system positioned in the vehicle interior; and a controller operable for controlling the actual capacity setting of the passenger restraint system in accordance with the method. The passenger restraint system may include a seatbelt, a seat, and one or more airbag systems.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2022Date of Patent: January 30, 2024Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Lisa M. Furton, Scott D. Thomas, Dorel M. Sala, George D. Allen, Sean T. Coughlin
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Patent number: 11807181Abstract: Vision-based airbag enablement may include capturing two-dimensional images of a passenger, segmenting the image, classifying the image, and determining seated height of the passenger from the image. Enabling or disabling deployment of the airbag may be controlled based at least in part upon the determined seated height.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2020Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Itai Druker, Gila Kamhi, Michael Baltaxe, Kobi Nistel, Ruben Mergui, Dorel M. Sala, Lisa A. Fallon
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Publication number: 20230274689Abstract: A display device includes a plurality of pixel elements, each pixel comprising a display portion and a sensor portion. The display portion includes a light source embedded in a backplane layer; the light source causes an image to be rendered by the display device. The sensor portion includes a sensor embedded in the same backplane layer, the sensor detects movement within a predetermined vicinity of the display device.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2022Publication date: August 31, 2023Inventors: Jonglee Park, Dorel M. Sala
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Patent number: 11688214Abstract: A composite panel for a vehicle includes a plurality of layers bonded together by resin. A sensing assembly is arranged between at least two of the plurality of layers. The sensing assembly includes at least one of a piezoelectric layer to sense vibration of the composite panel when installed on the vehicle and a thermopile configured to sense changes in temperature of the composite panel when installed on the vehicle. The sensing assembly further includes a transmitter configured to transmit data to the vehicle based on an output of the at least one of the piezoelectric layer and the thermopile.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2022Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Venkateshwar R. Aitharaju, Selina Xinyue Zhao, Andrew J. Galant, Dorel M. Sala, William R. Rodgers, Terrence Wathen
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Patent number: 11634049Abstract: A child restraint seat sensing device for a vehicle including a structural element at least partially defining a volume, wherein the structural element is located in a vehicle passenger seat between a seat base and seat back or is located behind the vehicle passenger seat, a stationary anchor in the vehicle, wherein the stationary anchor is located within the volume defined by the structural element, and a sensor mounted to the structural element, wherein the sensor is configured to detect whether a child restraint seat connector is attached to the stationary anchor.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2022Date of Patent: April 25, 2023Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Scott D. Thomas, Tricia E. Morrow, Dorel M. Sala, Eugene J. Lau, Suzanne L. Johansson, Orhan Demirovic
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Publication number: 20230026640Abstract: A system includes an in-cabin sensor, a seatbelt routing zone module, and a seatbelt routing classification module. The in-cabin sensor is operable to generate an image of an occupant in a vehicle seat. The seatbelt routing zone module is configured to generate a seatbelt routing zone based on at least one of a size of the occupant in the image and a shape of the occupant. The seatbelt routing classification module is configured to determine whether a seatbelt is routed properly around the occupant based on whether the seatbelt is at least partially within the seatbelt routing zone.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2021Publication date: January 26, 2023Inventors: Scott D. THOMAS, Dorel M. SALA, Joseph Philip MCLAINE
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Publication number: 20220274511Abstract: A child restraint seat sensing device for a vehicle including a structural element at least partially defining a volume, wherein the structural element is located in a vehicle passenger seat between a seat base and seat back or is located behind the vehicle passenger seat, a stationary anchor in the vehicle, wherein the stationary anchor is located within the volume defined by the structural element, and a sensor mounted to the structural element, wherein the sensor is configured to detect whether a child restraint seat connector is attached to the stationary anchor.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2022Publication date: September 1, 2022Inventors: Scott D. Thomas, Tricia E. Morrow, Dorel M. Sala, Eugene J. Lau, Suzanne L. Johansson, Orhan Demirovic
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Patent number: 11396248Abstract: An anchor attachment detection sensor for a vehicle including an anchor including an anchor attachment loop bar; a slide mount defining an opening, wherein the slide mount is positioned aft of the anchor attachment loop bar; a slide positioned in the opening of the slide mount, a plate secured to a first end of the slide, a spring, wherein the spring biases the plate against the anchor attachment loop bar; and a sensing device configured to transmit a control signal having a value, wherein the value of the control signal is based on a displacement of a portion of the slide.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2020Date of Patent: July 26, 2022Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Eugene J. Lau, Scott D. Thomas, Tricia E. Morrow, Dorel M. Sala, Suzanne L. Johansson
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Publication number: 20220190394Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to motion-generating particles for desulfation of lead-acid batteries, lead-acid batteries including such motion-generating particles, and methods of making and using the same. For example, the present disclosure provides a lead-acid battery including one or more electroactive plates disposed within a casing; an electrolyte disposed within the casing and surrounding the electroactive plates; a plurality of ferromagnetic particles disposed with the electrolyte within the casing; and one or more electromagnets. The one or more electromagnets may be configured to direct a magnetic field towards the electrolyte to selectively cause movement of the plurality of ferromagnetic particles so as to agitate the electrolyte.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2020Publication date: June 16, 2022Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Dorel M. SALA, Mahmoud ABD ELHAMID, Dave G. RICH
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Patent number: 11358499Abstract: A child restraint seat sensing device for a vehicle including a structural element at least partially defining a volume, wherein the structural element is located in a vehicle passenger seat between a seat base and seat back or is located behind the vehicle passenger seat, a stationary anchor in the vehicle, wherein the stationary anchor is located within the volume defined by the structural element, and a sensor mounted to the structural element, wherein the sensor is configured to detect whether a child restraint seat connector is attached to the stationary anchor.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2019Date of Patent: June 14, 2022Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Scott D. Thomas, Tricia E. Morrow, Dorel M. Sala, Eugene J. Lau, Suzanne L. Johansson, Orhan Demirovic
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Publication number: 20220134988Abstract: An anchor attachment detection sensor for a vehicle including an anchor including an anchor attachment loop bar; a slide mount defining an opening, wherein the slide mount is positioned aft of the anchor attachment loop bar; a slide positioned in the opening of the slide mount, a plate secured to a first end of the slide, a spring, wherein the spring biases the plate against the anchor attachment loop bar; and a sensing device configured to transmit a control signal having a value, wherein the value of the control signal is based on a displacement of a portion of the slide.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 3, 2020Publication date: May 5, 2022Inventors: Eugene J. Lau, Scott D. Thomas, Tricia E. Morrow, Dorel M. Sala, Suzanne L. Johansson
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Publication number: 20220126772Abstract: Vision-based airbag enablement may include capturing two-dimensional images of a passenger, segmenting the image, classifying the image, and determining seated height of the passenger from the image. Enabling or disabling deployment of the airbag may be controlled based at least in part upon the determined seated height.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 27, 2020Publication date: April 28, 2022Inventors: Itai Druker, Gila Kamhi, Michael Baltaxe, Kobi Nistel, Ruben Mergui, Dorel M. Sala, Lisa A. Fallon
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Patent number: 11309589Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to motion-generating pumps, energy storage devices including such motion-generating pumps, and methods of making and using the same for the desulfation of lead-acid batteries. The energy storage device includes a battery casing defining a plurality of chambers, each of the plurality of chambers may include one or more electroactive plates disposed therein and an electrolyte disposed so as to surround the one or more electroactive plates. The energy storage device further includes one or more circulating systems configured to agitate the electrolyte in each of the plurality of chambers. A method for desulfation in a lead-acid battery may include using one or more circulating systems to circulate an electrolyte so as to prevent precipitation.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2020Date of Patent: April 19, 2022Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Dorel M. Sala, Mahmoud Abd Elhamid, Dave G. Rich
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Patent number: 11309588Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to motion-generating mechanisms for desulfation of lead-acid batteries, lead-acid batteries including such motion-generating mechanisms, and methods of making and using the same. For example, the present disclosure provides a lead-acid battery that includes one or more electroactive plates disposed within a casing; an electrolyte disposed within the casing and surrounding the electroactive plates; and one or more movable members disposed on or adjacent to one or more interior surfaces of the casing and in communication with the electrolyte. The one or more movable members each have a first position and a second position and movement between the first position and the second position agitates the electrolyte.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2020Date of Patent: April 19, 2022Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Dorel M. Sala, Mahmoud Abd Elhamid, Dave G. Rich
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Publication number: 20220097581Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, an interior heating system for occupant seats of a vehicle is provided. The interior heating system uses a weft co-knit fabric combined with at least one conductive electrode to heat selective regions of a vehicle seat. The interior heating system includes the weft co-knit fabric that contains a set of weft knit active or plated emitting yarn configured with at least one conductive electrode. The knit active or plated emitting yarn is co-knit with at least one parent yarn for enhanced uniformity of an electrical current applied to at least one conductive electrode from the weft co-knit fabric, and a plurality of conductive electrodes arranged in an interdigitated layout to combine together each conductive electrode with a set of a plurality of conductive co-knit active emitting yarns which attach to each electrode tine of the conductive electrode in a select region.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2020Publication date: March 31, 2022Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Christopher P. Henry, Nancy L. Johnson, Paul W. Alexander, Dorel M. Sala, Anthony L. Smith
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Publication number: 20210114489Abstract: A child restraint seat sensing device for a vehicle including a structural element at least partially defining a volume, wherein the structural element is located in a vehicle passenger seat between a seat base and seat back or is located behind the vehicle passenger seat, a stationary anchor in the vehicle, wherein the stationary anchor is located within the volume defined by the structural element, and a sensor mounted to the structural element, wherein the sensor is configured to detect whether a child restraint seat connector is attached to the stationary anchor.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 17, 2019Publication date: April 22, 2021Inventors: Scott D. Thomas, Tricia E. Morrow, Dorel M. Sala, Eugene J. Lau, Suzanne L. Johansson, Orhan Demirovic
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Patent number: 10978630Abstract: A thermal control system includes a component having a surface. A plurality of thermal generating devices include a first conductive plate, second and third conductive plates, a first semiconductor device arranged between the first conductive plate and the second conductive plate, and a second semiconductor device arranged between the first conductive plate and the third conductive plate. The first semiconductor device and the second semiconductor device have different types of doping. First ones of the plurality of thermal generating devices are arranged with the first conductive plate located adjacent to the surface of the component. Second ones of the plurality of thermal generating devices are arranged with the second and third conductive plates located adjacent to the surface of the component. The first ones and the second ones of plurality of thermal generating devices perform heating and cooling of the surface, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2019Date of Patent: April 13, 2021Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Dorel M. Sala, Paul W. Alexander, Nancy L. Johnson
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Patent number: 10974675Abstract: A method for operating an automobile vehicle pedestrian sensing system includes: embedding multiple piezoelectric sensors in a vehicle bumper fascia, each generating a voltage in response to an impact of an object with the fascia; retrieving multiple threshold values from a memory, each assigned to one of the sensors; reading the voltage from each of the sensors; grouping individual sensors into multiple different logic circuits, each including at least two of the sensors; determining for each sensor in each of the logic circuits if the voltage is greater than the assigned threshold value; creating a positive signal following any one of the logic circuits when the voltage is determined to be greater than the assigned threshold value for the sensors grouped into the one of the logic circuits; and generating a hood deployment system deployment signal when the positive signal is output from all of the logic circuits.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2018Date of Patent: April 13, 2021Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Hanif Muhammad, Dorel M. Sala, Richard J. Skurkis