Patents by Inventor Jan H. Aase

Jan H. Aase 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).

  • Patent number: 9616941
    Abstract: An approach to designing lightweight metal-polymer composite structures in a manner that decomposes the structure into at least two parts. In one specific embodiment, the approach is a manufacturing process for a vehicle that includes attaching an impact beam to a vehicle structure. The process includes providing a vehicle structure including a back plate of the impact beam being made of a suitable material, such as a metal, that can withstand high temperature processes. A front part of the impact beam including a front plate and a polymer core is attached to the back plate. The back plate is designed to provide structural integrity that allows the vehicle structure to go through the high temperature processes and/or the vehicle structure provides structural integrity that allows the back plate to go through the one or more processes. The back plate is also designed to provide desired functional characteristics of the beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Hanif Muhammad, Nilesh D. Mankame, Jan H. Aase
  • Patent number: 9457434
    Abstract: A method for securing sandwich structures together, especially vehicle structures. In one embodiment, two sandwich structures are perpendicularly secured together, where a first one of the sandwich structures includes a micro-truss core having one unit cell geometry and second one of the sandwich structures includes a micro-truss core having different unit cell geometry. The micro-truss core of the second sandwich structure includes a micro-truss extension fabricated at the same time as the micro-truss core and having the same unit cell geometry as the micro-truss core for the first sandwich structure. The extension is inserted in an open area between face sheets in the first sandwich structure so that it abuts against the micro-truss core in the first sandwich structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Nilesh D. Mankame, Jan H. Aase, Mark O. Vann
  • Patent number: 9409518
    Abstract: A system for enabling a driver of a vehicle to visibly observe objects located in a blind spot includes, but is not limited to, a rear view viewing device that is mounted to the vehicle and configured to be electronically adjustable. The system further includes a sensor that is associated with the vehicle and that is configured to detect a location of an object with respect to the vehicle and to generate a first signal indicative of the location of the object. The system further includes a processor that is communicatively coupled with the sensor and that is operatively coupled with the rear view viewing device. The processor is configured to obtain the first signal from the sensor and to command the rear view viewing device to adjust such that the object is visibly observable to the driver when the processor receives the first signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Dorel M. Sala, Jihan Ryu, Jan H. Aase
  • Publication number: 20160200370
    Abstract: An approach to designing lightweight metal-polymer composite structures in a manner that decomposes the structure into at least two parts. In one specific embodiment, the approach is a manufacturing process for a vehicle that includes attaching an impact beam to a vehicle structure. The process includes providing a vehicle structure including a back plate of the impact beam being made of a suitable material, such as a metal, that can withstand high temperature processes. A front part of the impact beam including a front plate and a polymer core is attached to the back plate. The back plate is designed to provide structural integrity that allows the vehicle structure to go through the high temperature processes and/or the vehicle structure provides structural integrity that allows the back plate to go through the one or more processes. The back plate is also designed to provide desired functional characteristics of the beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Inventors: Hanif Muhammad, Nilesh D. Mankame, Jan H. Aase
  • Publication number: 20160089753
    Abstract: A method for securing sandwich structures together, especially vehicle structures. In one embodiment, two sandwich structures are perpendicularly secured together, where a first one of the sandwich structures includes a micro-truss core having one unit cell geometry and second one of the sandwich structures includes a micro-truss core having different unit cell geometry. The micro-truss core of the second sandwich structure includes a micro-truss extension fabricated at the same time as the micro-truss core and having the same unit cell geometry as the micro-truss core for the first sandwich structure. The extension is inserted in an open area between face sheets in the first sandwich structure so that it abuts against the micro-truss core in the first sandwich structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Inventors: Nilesh D. MANKAME, Jan H. AASE, Mark O. VANN
  • Patent number: 9097593
    Abstract: Malfunction or failure of mechanical, electrical and electro-mechanical equipment, for example equipment used in manufacturing operations, is often preceded by an increase in the operating temperature of at least some portion of the equipment. Some pre-determined temperature, greater than the highest normal operating temperature of the equipment, is presumed or known to be indicative of impending equipment failure if no remedial action is taken. A resettable, temperature-sensitive device, containing a shape memory alloy actuator, pre-selected to operate at the pre-determined temperature, is disclosed. The device is placed in thermal contact with the equipment. If the equipment achieves the pre-determined temperature, the shape memory alloy actuator causes the device to display a flag or provide some other passive visual indication. Alternatively, or additionally, the actuator may trigger an electrically-powered alert including visual or audible alerts or a wireless communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Dynalloy, Inc.
    Inventors: Nancy L. Johnson, Alan L. Browne, Nicholas W. Pinto, IV, Carol A. Terry, Roland J. Menassa, Jan H. Aase, Jeffrey W. Brown, Wayne Brown, Aragorn Zolno, Christopher M. Barclay
  • Publication number: 20150039312
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for managing speech dialog of a speech system. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving information determined from a non-speech related sensor; using the information in a turn-taking function to confirm at least one of if and when a user is speaking; and generating a command to at least one of a speech recognition module and a speech generation module based on the confirmation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: ELI TZIRKEL-HANCOCK, JAN H. AASE, ROBERT D. SIMS, III, IGAL BILIK, MOSHE LAIFENFELD
  • Publication number: 20140069318
    Abstract: Malfunction or failure of mechanical, electrical and electro-mechanical equipment, for example equipment used in manufacturing operations, is often preceded by an increase in the operating temperature of at least some portion of the equipment. Some pre-determined temperature, greater than the highest normal operating temperature of the equipment, is presumed or known to be indicative of impending equipment failure if no remedial action is taken. A resettable, temperature-sensitive device, containing a shape memory alloy actuator, pre-selected to operate at the pre-determined temperature, is disclosed. The device is placed in thermal contact with the equipment. If the equipment achieves the pre-determined temperature, the shape memory alloy actuator causes the device to display a flag or provide some other passive visual indication. Alternatively, or additionally, the actuator may trigger an electrically-powered alert including visual or audible alerts or a wireless communication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Inventors: NANCY L. JOHNSON, ALAN L. BROWNE, NICHOLAS W. PINTO, IV, CAROL A. TERRY, ROLAND J. MENASSA, JAN H. AASE, JEFFREY W. BROWN, WAYNE BROWN, ARAGORN ZOLNO, CHRISTOPHER M. BARCLAY
  • Patent number: 8623490
    Abstract: Impact absorbing padding includes a unitary piece including a polymeric material commingled with a structural element. The polymeric material includes a material having a first temperature-responsive stiffness, and the structural element includes an element fabricated from a shape memory alloy formulated to have a second temperature-responsive stiffness that is converse to the first temperature-responsive stiffness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Chin-Hsu Lin, Alan L. Browne, Nancy L. Johnson, Jan H. Aase
  • Patent number: 8618921
    Abstract: A wet road surface detection system is provided for a vehicle driving on a road. The wet road surface detection system includes a sound sensing device coupled to the vehicle for capturing noise of the vehicle tires as the vehicle drives on a road surface. A processor processes sounds captured by the audible sensing device. The processor quantifies a variable sound level of the captured noise between a first frequency and a second frequency. The processor determines whether each quantified sound level between the first frequency and the second frequency is above a predetermined sound level threshold below the sound level at the first frequency. The processor determines that the vehicle is driving on a wet road surface in response to each quantified sound level between the first frequency and the second frequency being above a predetermined sound level threshold below the sound level at the first frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Alan L. Browne, Shung H. Sung, Nancy L. Johnson, Jan H. Aase
  • Patent number: 8496078
    Abstract: A semi-autonomous vehicle includes a chassis having a repository on a plurality of wheels, a propulsion system, a steering system, a braking system, an extra-vehicle communications system, and an extra-vehicle sensory system. A control system of the semi-autonomous vehicle is operatively coupled to the propulsion system, the steering system, and the braking system and signally connected to the extra-vehicle sensory system and the extra-vehicle communications system. A non-load-bearing coupling mechanism of the semi-autonomous vehicle includes a connector, a flexible mechanical link element and a communications link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Carl W. Wellborn, Joseph F. Szczerba, Jan H. Aase, Brian S. Repa, Mary Ellen Decaluwe, Jim K. Rainbolt
  • Publication number: 20130155534
    Abstract: A system for enabling a driver of a vehicle to visibly observe objects located in a blind spot includes, but is not limited to, a rear view viewing device that is mounted to the vehicle and configured to be electronically adjustable. The system further includes a sensor that is associated with the vehicle and that is configured to detect a location of an object with respect to the vehicle and to generate a first signal indicative of the location of the object. The system further includes a processor that is communicatively coupled with the sensor and that is operatively coupled with the rear view viewing device. The processor is configured to obtain the first signal from the sensor and to command the rear view viewing device to adjust such that the object is visibly observable to the driver when the processor receives the first signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: DOREL M. SALA, JIHAN RYU, JAN H. AASE
  • Patent number: 8446065
    Abstract: A tubular actuator including a flexible tube or roll, operable to shift between first and second configurations so as to define a stroke, and utilizing active material activation to produce, modify, and/or retain the stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Alan L. Browne, Jan H. Aase, Paul W. Alexander, Nancy L. Johnson, Xiujie Gao
  • Publication number: 20130073338
    Abstract: A method of submitting customer-identified insights for improving a fleet of vehicles. A capturing application is distributed that allows a customer to record a customer identified insight. The capturing application is configured to transmit a recorded customer-identified insight to a receiving unit. Customer-identified insights are received at the receiving unit via a communication system. The customer-identified insights are aggregated in a storage database. The customer-identified insights in the storage database are analyzed to identify potential vehicle improvements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Kevin G. Kolpasky, Jim K. Rainbolt, Thomas Edward Howe, Jan H. Aase
  • Patent number: 8330673
    Abstract: A method for creating an efficient scan loop for displaying a vector projection graphic upon a substantially transparent windscreen head-up display includes determining a plurality of candidate scan loops to create a desired vector projection graphic, determining an efficiency metric for each of the plurality of candidate scan loops, determining the efficient scan loop for displaying the vector projection graphic based upon comparing the efficiency metrics, and utilizing the efficient scan loop to create the desired vector projection graphic upon the substantially transparent windscreen head-up display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Dehua Cui, Thomas A. Seder, Joseph F. Szczerba, Jan H. Aase
  • Patent number: 8272214
    Abstract: A cable adapted for use as an actuator, adaptive structural member, or damper, includes a plurality of longitudinally inter-engaged and cooperatively functioning shape memory alloy wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Nilesh D. Mankame, John Andrew Shaw, Benjamin Reedlunn, Alan L. Browne, Xiujie Gao, Paul W. Alexander, Jan H. Aase, Nancy L. Johnson, Kenneth A. Strom, Sanjeev M. Naik, Chandra S. Namuduri, Robin Stevenson, William R. Rodgers, John C. Ulicny, Christopher P. Henry, Paul E. Krajewski, Ravindra Brammajyosula
  • Publication number: 20120193154
    Abstract: A semi-autonomous vehicle includes a chassis having a repository on a plurality of wheels, a propulsion system, a steering system, a braking system, an extra-vehicle communications system, and an extra-vehicle sensory system. A control system of the semi-autonomous vehicle is operatively coupled to the propulsion system, the steering system, and the braking system and signally connected to the extra-vehicle sensory system and the extra-vehicle communications system. A non-load-bearing coupling mechanism of the semi-autonomous vehicle includes a connector, a flexible mechanical link element and a communications link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2011
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: CARL W. WELLBORN, JOSEPH F. SZCZERBA, JAN H. AASE, BRIAN S. REPA, MARY ELLEN DECALUWE, JIM K. RAINBOLT
  • Publication number: 20120161579
    Abstract: A tubular actuator including a flexible tube or roll, operable to shift between first and second configurations so as to define a stroke, and utilizing active material activation to produce, modify, and/or retain the stroke.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: ALAN L. BROWNE, JAN H. AASE, PAUL W. ALEXANDER, NANCY L. JOHNSON, XIUJIE GAO
  • Patent number: 8109219
    Abstract: A selectively and reversibly adjustable utensil, aperture forming structure, and stirrup, and methods of geometrically modifying an eye defined by the utensil, the aperture defined by the structure, and the stirrup, utilizing active material actuation, so as to facilitate entraining a filament within the eye or aperture, and securing the filament once entrained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Alan L. Browne, Nancy L. Johnson, Jan H. Aase
  • Patent number: 8099210
    Abstract: An apparatus for operator control of an in-vehicle system includes an interface device for receiving inputs for control of the in-vehicle system from an operator hand, the interface device including a control panel having a visual display screen. The apparatus further includes a sensing system adjacent the interface device including an optical proximity sensor having a single infrared light source, a first plurality of directionally sensitive light receivers for detecting a first reflected infrared light from the infrared light source that is reflected by the operator hand only when the operator hand approaches the optical proximity sensor near the interface device from a driver side of the vehicle and a second plurality of directionally sensitive light receivers for detecting a second reflected infrared light from the infrared light source that is reflected by the operator hand only when the operator hand approaches the optical proximity sensor near the interface device from a passenger side of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: John K. Lenneman, Joseph F. Szczerba, Roy J. Mathieu, Thomas A. Seder, Jan H. Aase, Alan M. Baum