Patents by Inventor Mark C. Hoinka

Mark C. Hoinka 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: 9911249
    Abstract: A method for operating a diagnostic system of a vehicle including a fail operational power system (FOPS) module and a fail operational system (FOS) module includes the FOS module requesting a microcontroller of the FOPS module to generate a diagnostic control signal. The FOS module receives the diagnostic information from a component module of the FOPS module based on the diagnostic control signal generated by the microcontroller. The FOS module executes isolator diagnostics based on the received diagnostic information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: David P. Koch, Chandra S. Namuduri, Jeffrey James Hoorn, Nikhil L. Hoskeri, Mark C. Hoinka
  • Patent number: 9440600
    Abstract: Method for operating a fail operational power system for a vehicle includes monitoring voltages on first and second power distribution paths arranged in parallel. Each path includes a respective first or second isolator switch effective when operative in a closed state to power the respective path by a respective energy storage device for supplying electrical power to one or more loads partitioned on each of the paths. A third isolator switch controllably operative between open and closed states is monitored. The closed state of the third isolator switch connects the paths and the open state opens the connection between the paths. When a predetermined operating mode requiring fail operational power is enabled, the third isolator switch is controlled to the open state when at least one of the monitored voltages violates a reference voltage and is controlled to the closed state when neither one of the monitored voltages violate the reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: David P. Koch, Chandra S. Namuduri, Jeffrey James Hoorn, Nikhil L. Hoskeri, Mark C. Hoinka
  • Patent number: 8742615
    Abstract: An on-vehicle DC/DC converter transforms high-voltage electric power originating from an on-vehicle high-voltage source to low-voltage electric power at a regulated voltage level. The low-voltage electric power is distributed by a low-voltage bus. A method for operating the DC/DC converter includes monitoring a state of charge and a temperature of a low-voltage battery connected to the low-voltage bus, setting a DC/DC converter command to a nominal voltage level as a function of the state of charge and temperature of the low-voltage battery, monitoring a total low-voltage electric load, and adjusting the DC/DC converter command to a minimum low-voltage reference voltage when the vehicle is operating below a predetermined speed and the total low-voltage electric load is greater than a predetermined load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Suresh Gopalakrishnan, Chandra S. Namuduri, Mark C. Hoinka, Sanjeev M. Naik, Lei Hao
  • Publication number: 20140077592
    Abstract: Method for operating a fail operational power system for a vehicle includes monitoring voltages on first and second power distribution paths arranged in parallel. Each path includes a respective first or second isolator switch effective when operative in a closed state to power the respective path by a respective energy storage device for supplying electrical power to one or more loads partitioned on each of the paths. A third isolator switch controllably operative between open and closed states is monitored. The closed state of the third isolator switch connects the paths and the open state opens the connection between the paths. When a predetermined operating mode requiring fail operational power is enabled, the third isolator switch is controlled to the open state when at least one of the monitored voltages violates a reference voltage and is controlled to the closed state when neither one of the monitored voltages violate the reference voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: DAVID P. KOCH, CHANDRA S. NAMUDURI, JEFFREY JAMES HOORN, NIKHIL L. HOSKERI, MARK C. HOINKA
  • Publication number: 20140081509
    Abstract: A method for operating a diagnostic system of a vehicle including a fail operational power system (FOPS) module and a fail operational system (FOS) module includes the FOS module requesting a microcontroller of the FOPS module to generate a diagnostic control signal. The FOS module receives the diagnostic information from a component module of the FOPS module based on the diagnostic control signal generated by the microcontroller. The FOS module executes isolator diagnostics based on the received diagnostic information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: David P. KOCH, Chandra S. NAMUDURI, Jeffrey James HOORN, Nikhil L. HOSKERI, Mark C. HOINKA
  • Publication number: 20120181854
    Abstract: An on-vehicle DC/DC converter transforms high-voltage electric power originating from an on-vehicle high-voltage source to low-voltage electric power at a regulated voltage level. The low-voltage electric power is distributed by a low-voltage bus. A method for operating the DC/DC converter includes monitoring a state of charge and a temperature of a low-voltage battery connected to the low-voltage bus, setting a DC/DC converter command to a nominal voltage level as a function of the state of charge and temperature of the low-voltage battery, monitoring a total low-voltage electric load, and adjusting the DC/DC converter command to a minimum low-voltage reference voltage when the vehicle is operating below a predetermined speed and the total low-voltage electric load is greater than a predetermined load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Suresh Gopalakrishnan, Chandra S. Namuduri, Mark C. Hoinka, Sanjeev M. Naik, Lei Hao