Patents by Inventor Michael J. Abowd

Michael J. Abowd 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: 11872988
    Abstract: In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, methods and systems are provided for controlling automatic overtake functionality for a host vehicle. In on such exemplary embodiment, a disclosed method includes: (i) obtaining, via a plurality of sensors, sensor data pertaining to the host vehicle and a roadway on which the host vehicle is traveling; (ii) determining, via a processor, when an automatic overtake is recommended, using the sensor data in conjunction with one or more threshold values; (iii) receiving driver inputs pertaining to the automatic overtake; and (iv) adjusting, via the processor, the one or more threshold values for the automatic overtake based on the driver inputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. Parks, Namal P. Kumara, Paul A. Adam, Gabriel T. Choi, Michael J. Abowd, Braden J. Swantick
  • Publication number: 20220144276
    Abstract: In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, methods and systems are provided for controlling automatic overtake functionality for a host vehicle. In on such exemplary embodiment, a disclosed method includes: (i) obtaining, via a plurality of sensors, sensor data pertaining to the host vehicle and a roadway on which the host vehicle is traveling; (ii) determining, via a processor, when an automatic overtake is recommended, using the sensor data in conjunction with one or more threshold values; (iii) receiving driver inputs pertaining to the automatic overtake; and (iv) adjusting, via the processor, the one or more threshold values for the automatic overtake based on the driver inputs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. Parks, Namal P. Kumara, Paul A. Adam, Gabriel T. Choi, Michael J. Abowd, Braden J. Swantick
  • Patent number: 9401053
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for providing fault notifications for vehicles. A notification unit is configured to provide a notification when a fault is detected for a vehicle. A processor is coupled to the notification unit, and is configured to provide instructions to the notification unit to provide the notification when the fault is detected, and restrict operation of the vehicle, when the fault is detected, until an action is taken in response to the notification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Brian A. MacFarlane, Michael J. Abowd
  • Publication number: 20160071332
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for providing fault notifications for vehicles. A notification unit is configured to provide a notification when a fault is detected for a vehicle. A processor is coupled to the notification unit, and is configured to provide instructions to the notification unit to provide the notification when the fault is detected, and restrict operation of the vehicle, when the fault is detected, until an action is taken in response to the notification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventors: BRIAN A. MACFARLANE, MICHAEL J. ABOWD
  • Patent number: 9268953
    Abstract: A system includes first and second modules of a vehicle. The first module stores at least one seed value, calculates a key based on the at least one seed value, forms a seed key pair based on the calculated key and the at least one seed value, generates a data bus message including the seed key pair and data corresponding to operation of the first module, and transmits, over a distributed vehicle network, the data bus message. The second module receives the data bus message over the distributed vehicle network, retrieves the seed key pair from the data bus message, determines whether the calculated key matches an expected key, and selectively verifies integrity of the first module based on the determination of whether the calculated key matches the expected key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Ming Zhao, Michael J. Abowd
  • Patent number: 9249877
    Abstract: A position diagnostic test for a shift-by-wire system is provided. The shift-by-wire system includes a shift lever configured to move along a shift path, a first and a second position sensor configured to generate a first and a second position signal, respectively, of the shift lever along the shift path, and a controller configured to receive the first and second position signals. The first position sensor includes a first x-coordinate value and a first y-coordinate value, and the second position sensor includes a second x-coordinate value and a second y-coordinate value. The position diagnostic test includes performing a rationality test on each of the coordinate values. If at least one predetermined condition exists for a particular coordinate value, then it fails the rationality test, and the position signal containing the coordinate value may be disregarded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Daniel A. Bialas, Anne Bliss, Orson S. Wang, Michael J. Abowd, Brian A. MacFarlane
  • Publication number: 20150213277
    Abstract: A system includes first and second modules of a vehicle. The first module stores at least one seed value, calculates a key based on the at least one seed value, forms a seed key pair based on the calculated key and the at least one seed value, generates a data bus message including the seed key pair and data corresponding to operation of the first module, and transmits, over a distributed vehicle network, the data bus message. The second module receives the data bus message over the distributed vehicle network, retrieves the seed key pair from the data bus message, determines whether the calculated key matches an expected key, and selectively verifies integrity of the first module based on the determination of whether the calculated key matches the expected key.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Publication date: July 30, 2015
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Ming Zhao, Michael J. Abowd
  • Publication number: 20150088387
    Abstract: A position diagnostic test for a shift-by-wire system is provided. The shift-by-wire system includes a shift lever configured to move along a shift path, a first and a second position sensor configured to generate a first and a second position signal, respectively, of the shift lever along the shift path, and a controller configured to receive the first and second position signals. The first position sensor includes a first x-coordinate value and a first y-coordinate value, and the second position sensor includes a second x-coordinate value and a second y-coordinate value. The position diagnostic test includes performing a rationality test on each of the coordinate values. If at least one predetermined condition exists for a particular coordinate value, then it fails the rationality test, and the position signal containing the coordinate value may be disregarded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Daniel A. Bialas, Anne Bliss, Orson S. Wang, Michael J. Abowd, Brian A. MacFarlane
  • Publication number: 20090328189
    Abstract: A wireless communication system for use with a vehicle is disclosed. The communication system comprises a portable wireless device comprising a first manual interface device, the portable wireless device adapted to transmit an activation signal in response to manipulation of the first manual interface device, and an onboard wireless communication device for a vehicle. The onboard wireless communication device can be adapted to transmit Wi-Fi Protected Setup initiation signals in response to receiving the activation signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2008
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Alan T. BUDYTA, Ansaf I. ALRABADY, Michael J. ABOWD
  • Patent number: 5379637
    Abstract: A method of measuring and indicating a level of natural gas fuel in a storage tank of a motor vehicle, comprising the steps of determining a temperature of the natural gas, determining a pressure of the natural gas, retrieving from a look-up table, responsive to the determined temperature and pressure, a signal representative of a percentage that the tank is full of the natural gas, determining a gauge command responsive to the signal, and driving the gauge according to the determined command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1995
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Abowd, Pierre Y. Abboud, James R. Ray