Patents by Inventor Louis G. Hector
Louis G. Hector 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: 11939002Abstract: A structural assembly includes a frame and a plurality of panels. The frame includes a wall that at least partially defines an interior region. The plurality of panels is disposed at least partially in the interior region and is coupled to the frame. The plurality of panels includes a first panel and a second panel. The first panel includes a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The first surface defines a first plurality of depressions and the second surface defines a first plurality of protrusions complementary to the first plurality of depressions. The second panel includes a third surface and a fourth surface opposite the third surface. The third surface defines a second plurality of depressions. The fourth surface defines a second plurality of protrusions complementary to the first plurality of depressions. The first panel is coupled to the second panel.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2021Date of Patent: March 26, 2024Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Andrew Clay Bobel, Louis G. Hector, Jr., Erik Brandon Golm, Charles E. Jensen, Charles W. Toohy, Mohamed Darsot, Zachary S. Mendla, Anil K. Sachdev
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Publication number: 20240072242Abstract: A method for forming an electrode for an electrochemical cell that cycles lithium ions is provided. The method includes contacting a precursor electroactive material and a conductive material to a polymeric solution including a first solvent and a binder material to form a first admixture; applying a mixing force to the first admixture to form a first mixture; drying the first mixture to form a plurality of electroactive material agglomerates, each agglomerate including an electroactive material particle in contact with the conductive material via the binder material; contacting the plurality of electroactive material agglomerates to a second solvent to form a second admixture, the binder material being insoluble in the second solvent; applying a mixing force to the second admixture to form a second mixture; and disposing the second mixture on or near one or more surfaces of a current collector to form the electrode.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2022Publication date: February 29, 2024Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Meng JIANG, Gongshin QI, Louis G. HECTOR, JR.
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Patent number: 11904376Abstract: An energy-dissipating cover for covering a component sensitive to mechanical impulse includes a sheet of selected ferrous or aluminum alloy, the sheet having a top surface, a bottom surface, an outer perimeter, an overall area within the outer perimeter and a nominal thickness of no more than 2.5 mm. The sheet is configured for connection with one or more external structures at a plurality of connection points within the outer perimeter, wherein the overall area comprises a plurality of supported areas and at least one unsupported area. Embossments are formed within the at least one unsupported area and extend outward from the bottom surface. The embossments are shaped, sized and arranged so as to limit orthogonal deflection of the sheet from a mechanical impulse directed normal to the bottom surface of the sheet at the plurality of embossments.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2020Date of Patent: February 20, 2024Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Erik B. Golm, Louis G. Hector, Jr., Anil K. Sachdev, Andrew C. Bobel, Kevin B. Rober, Jianfeng Wang
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Publication number: 20240039002Abstract: A battery cell includes a first current collector and a cathode electrode arranged adjacent to the first current collector and including lithium active material. A separator is arranged adjacent to the cathode electrode. The battery cell includes a second current collector. A porous conductive layer is arranged on the second current collector between the second current collector and the separator.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2022Publication date: February 1, 2024Inventors: Meng JIANG, Meinan HE, Biqiong WANG, Jiazhi HU, Fan XU, Louis G. HECTOR, JR.
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Publication number: 20240030458Abstract: A method of making a battery current collector foil includes heat treating a foil sheet and mechanically roughening the heat treated foil sheet to create a surface roughness of between 2-4 ?m. The heat treating and mechanical roughening of the foil sheet provides improved coating adhesion. One of an anode and cathode coating is then applied to the roughened, heat treated, foil sheet.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 25, 2022Publication date: January 25, 2024Inventors: Andrew Clay BOBEL, Louis G. HECTOR, JR., Erik Brandon GOLM, Shaomao XU, Raghunathan K, Anil K. SACHDEV
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Patent number: 11735744Abstract: A battery electrode, and a method for fabricating the battery electrode are described. The battery electrode includes a current collector having a woven mesh planar sheet that is composed of metallic strands. The metallic strands define a multiplicity of interstitial spaces, and the woven mesh planar sheet includes a first surface and a second surface. An active material including lithium is embedded in the interstitial spaces of a first portion of the woven mesh planar sheet, and an electrical connection tab arranged on a second portion of the woven mesh planar sheet.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2021Date of Patent: August 22, 2023Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Anil K. Sachdev, Leng Mao, Louis G. Hector, Jr., Andrew C. Bobel
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Patent number: 11642712Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method of manufacturing a vehicle body structure component. The method includes extruding a tube to include at least one reinforced region extending along a length of the tube. The tube has a first thickness in the at least one reinforced region and a second thickness in other regions of the tube. The first thickness is greater than the second thickness. The method further includes cutting a blank from the tube such that the blank includes at least a portion of the at least one reinforced region and forming the blank into a desired shape of the component.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2022Date of Patent: May 9, 2023Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Anil K. Sachdev, Louis G. Hector, Jr., Arianna T. Morales, Andrew Clay Bobel
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Publication number: 20230140811Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of preparing a metal sheet. The method includes extruding a component along an extrusion axis. The component has a wall at least partially defining an interior region. The component includes a metal. The method further includes unfurling the wall to form a sheet precursor. The sheet precursor has a first thickness and a first transverse dimension. The method further includes rolling the sheet precursor along a rolling axis to form the metal sheet. The metal sheet has a second thickness perpendicular to the rolling axis. The second thickness is less than the first thickness. The second transverse dimension is parallel to the rolling axis. The second transverse dimension is greater than the first transverse dimension. In certain aspects, the metal includes lithium and the metal sheet is a lithium metal electrode.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 1, 2021Publication date: May 4, 2023Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Anil K. SACHDEV, Louis G. HECTOR, JR., Andrew Clay BOBEL, Arianna T. MORALES
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Patent number: 11617941Abstract: An environment interactive system includes: a first camera capturing first images of an area external to the vehicle; a second camera capturing second images of an area interior to the vehicle; a telematics control module determining a geographical location of the vehicle; a viewing device displaying items adjacent to, on or in front of detected objects and in a FOV of an occupant. The items correspond to the detected objects; and an infotainment module. The infotainment module: detects the objects based on the first images and the location of the vehicle; based on the second images, tracks at least one of a location of an eye of the occupant or a location of a body part of the occupant other than the eye; and based on the location of the eye and the location of the body part, displays the items via the viewing device in the FOV.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2020Date of Patent: April 4, 2023Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Wei Zeng, Jeremie Dernotte, Ke Liu, Nicole Ellison, Syed B. Mehdi, Kevin J. Silang, Louis G. Hector, Jr.
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Patent number: 11571622Abstract: A gaming system of a vehicle includes: a game application embodying an interactive game and stored in memory; a sensor of a vehicle configured to determine a present condition while the vehicle is moving; a gaming module of the vehicle, the gaming module configured to, while the vehicle is moving: execute the game application; display a virtual environment of the interactive game via one or more displays in the vehicle; output sound of the interactive game via one or more speakers in the vehicle; control action within the virtual environment of the interactive game based on user input received via one or more input devices of the vehicle; and adjust one or more characteristics of the virtual environment of the interactive game based on the present condition.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2020Date of Patent: February 7, 2023Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Syed B. Mehdi, Ke Liu, Louis G. Hector, Jr., Wei Zeng, Jeremie Dernotte, Nicole Ellison, Kevin J. Silang
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Publication number: 20230029479Abstract: A structural assembly includes a frame and a plurality of panels. The frame includes a wall that at least partially defines an interior region. The plurality of panels is disposed at least partially in the interior region and is coupled to the frame. The plurality of panels includes a first panel and a second panel. The first panel includes a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The first surface defines a first plurality of depressions and the second surface defines a first plurality of protrusions complementary to the first plurality of depressions. The second panel includes a third surface and a fourth surface opposite the third surface. The third surface defines a second plurality of depressions. The fourth surface defines a second plurality of protrusions complementary to the first plurality of depressions. The first panel is coupled to the second panel.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2021Publication date: February 2, 2023Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Andrew Clay BOBEL, Louis G. HECTOR, JR., Erik Brandon GOLM, Charles E. JENSEN, Charles W. TOOHY, Mohamed DARSOT, Zachary S. MENDLA, Anil K. SACHDEV
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Publication number: 20220416220Abstract: A lithium metal negative electrode for an electrochemical cell for a secondary lithium metal battery includes a polycrystalline metal substrate having a major facing surface with a defined crystallographic texture. An epitaxial lithium metal layer is formed on the major facing surface of the polycrystalline metal substrate. The epitaxial lithium metal layer exhibits a predominant crystal orientation. The predominant crystal orientation of the epitaxial lithium metal layer is derived from the defined crystallographic texture of the major facing surface of the polycrystalline metal substrate.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2021Publication date: December 29, 2022Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Andrew C. Bobel, Louis G. Hector, JR., Anil K. Sachdev, Jeffrey D. Cain
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Publication number: 20220376338Abstract: A sheet metal assembly includes a drawn metal sheet constructed of a metal material. The drawn metal sheet defines a surface and includes one or more stiffening features disposed along the drawn metal sheet. The one or more stiffening features represents a raised area disposed along the surface of the drawn metal sheet. Each of the one or more stiffening features include a predefined draw depth ranging from about twenty millimeters to about eighty millimeters.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2021Publication date: November 24, 2022Inventors: Andrew Clay Bobel, Louis G. Hector, JR., Erik Brandon Golm, Anil K. Sachdev, Charles E. Jensen
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Publication number: 20220352523Abstract: A battery electrode, and a method for fabricating the battery electrode are described. The battery electrode includes a current collector having a woven mesh planar sheet that is composed of metallic strands. The metallic strands define a multiplicity of interstitial spaces, and the woven mesh planar sheet includes a first surface and a second surface. An active material including lithium is embedded in the interstitial spaces of a first portion of the woven mesh planar sheet, and an electrical connection tab arranged on a second portion of the woven mesh planar sheet.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2021Publication date: November 3, 2022Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Anil K. Sachdev, Leng Mao, Louis G. Hector, JR., Andrew C. Bobel
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Patent number: 11479304Abstract: An energy absorber for interposition between a cover and a covered object includes a generally planar matrix of cells. Each of the cells includes a plurality of generally elongate micro-elements interconnected to form a cell micro-structure, with each cell having a respective energy absorption capacity such that an energy absorption capacity of the energy absorber varies across at least one direction. The cells are configured such that impulse of an object with the cover with the energy absorber sandwiched between the cover and the covered object causes a deceleration vs. time response in the object, beginning with a generally linear rise in the deceleration to a peak deceleration within 5 ms after the beginning of the impulse event, followed by a generally nonlinear decrease in the deceleration over a period of not greater than 15 ms to a final target deceleration of not greater than 10% of the peak deceleration.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2019Date of Patent: October 25, 2022Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Hanif Muhammad, Louis G. Hector, Jr., Mark A. Beauregard, Andrew C. Bobel, Michael J. Sigelko
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Publication number: 20220134953Abstract: An entertainment system of a vehicle includes: a plurality of cameras configured to capture images around an exterior of the vehicle; one or more displays; and an entertainment module configured to: based on the images, generate panoramic video; and display the panoramic video within the vehicle via the one or more displays.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2020Publication date: May 5, 2022Inventors: Wei Zeng, Jeremie Dernotte, Ke Liu, Nicole Ellison, Syed B. Mehdi, Kevin J. Silang, Louis G. Hector, JR.
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Patent number: 11318887Abstract: An entertainment system of a vehicle includes: a plurality of cameras configured to capture images around an exterior of the vehicle; one or more displays; and an entertainment module configured to: based on the images, generate panoramic video; and display the panoramic video within the vehicle via the one or more displays.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2020Date of Patent: May 3, 2022Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Wei Zeng, Jeremie Dernotte, Ke Liu, Nicole Ellison, Syed B. Mehdi, Kevin J. Silang, Louis G. Hector, Jr.
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Publication number: 20220062752Abstract: An environment interactive system includes: a first camera capturing first images of an area external to the vehicle; a second camera capturing second images of an area interior to the vehicle; a telematics control module determining a geographical location of the vehicle; a viewing device displaying items adjacent to, on or in front of detected objects and in a FOV of an occupant. The items correspond to the detected objects; and an infotainment module. The infotainment module: detects the objects based on the first images and the location of the vehicle; based on the second images, tracks at least one of a location of an eye of the occupant or a location of a body part of the occupant other than the eye; and based on the location of the eye and the location of the body part, displays the items via the viewing device in the FOV.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 1, 2020Publication date: March 3, 2022Inventors: Wei ZENG, Jeremie Dernotte, Ke Liu, Nicole Ellison, Syed B. Mehdi, Kevin J. Silang, Louis G. Hector, JR.
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Publication number: 20220047951Abstract: A gaming system of a vehicle includes: a game application embodying an interactive game and stored in memory; a sensor of a vehicle configured to determine a present condition while the vehicle is moving; a gaming module of the vehicle, the gaming module configured to, while the vehicle is moving: execute the game application; display a virtual environment of the interactive game via one or more displays in the vehicle; output sound of the interactive game via one or more speakers in the vehicle; control action within the virtual environment of the interactive game based on user input received via one or more input devices of the vehicle; and adjust one or more characteristics of the virtual environment of the interactive game based on the present condition.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2020Publication date: February 17, 2022Inventors: Syed B. MEHDI, Ke Liu, Louis G. Hector, JR., Wei Zeng, Jeremie Dernotte, Nicole Ellison, Kevin J. Silang
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Publication number: 20220039278Abstract: An energy-dissipating cover for covering a component sensitive to mechanical impulse includes a sheet of selected ferrous or aluminum alloy, the sheet having a top surface, a bottom surface, an outer perimeter, an overall area within the outer perimeter and a nominal thickness of no more than 2.5 mm. The sheet is configured for connection with one or more external structures at a plurality of connection points within the outer perimeter, wherein the overall area comprises a plurality of supported areas and at least one unsupported area. Embossments are formed within the at least one unsupported area and extend outward from the bottom surface. The embossments are shaped, sized and arranged so as to limit orthogonal deflection of the sheet from a mechanical impulse directed normal to the bottom surface of the sheet at the plurality of embossments.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2020Publication date: February 3, 2022Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Erik B. Golm, Louis G. Hector, JR., Anil K. Sachdev, Andrew C. Bobel, Kevin B. Rober, Jianfeng Wang