Patents by Inventor Richard A. Kaatz

Richard A. Kaatz 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: 10576957
    Abstract: According to aspects of the present disclosure, a vehicle includes a braking system, at least one controller, and at least one memory. The braking system includes a brake fluid therein and a brake pedal. The at least one memory stores instructions that, when executed by the at least one controller, are configured to: determine, via a boiling-point module, a boiling point of a brake fluid within a braking system of a vehicle; determine, via a fluidic-properties module, fluidic properties of the brake fluid; determine, via a corrosion-inhibitor module, an amount of corrosion inhibitors within the brake fluid; determine, via a reserve-alkalinity module, a reserve alkalinity of the brake fluid; estimate, a brake-fluid life module, a remaining effective life of the brake fluid using the boiling point, the fluidic properties, the amount of corrosion inhibitors, and the reserve alkalinity; and adjust a response curve of the braking system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Chih-hung Yen, Richard A. Kaatz, Steven J. Weber, John M. Moote, Patrick M. Hanley, Xiaoyu Huang
  • Patent number: 10300902
    Abstract: A vehicle braking system including a brake pedal in communication with a wheel brake, a brake actuation system, a braking system controller, an on-board driver communication system, and a controller is described. Parameters associated with a braking request, a brake actuation command and vehicle operation are monitored during each braking event, and segmented the into parameters associated with a static portion of the braking event and parameters associated with a dynamic portion of each braking event, evaluate the parameters associated with the static portion of the braking event and evaluate the parameters associated with the dynamic portion of the braking event, and assess a state of health of the braking system based upon the evaluation of the parameters. The assessment of the state of health of the braking system is communicated to a vehicle driver via the on-board driver communication system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC.
    Inventors: Chih-hung Yen, Xiaoyu Huang, Richard A. Kaatz, Robert L. Nisonger
  • Publication number: 20180370519
    Abstract: A vehicle braking system including a brake pedal in communication with a wheel brake, a brake actuation system, a braking system controller, an on-board driver communication system, and a controller is described. Parameters associated with a braking request, a brake actuation command and vehicle operation are monitored during each braking event, and segmented the into parameters associated with a static portion of the braking event and parameters associated with a dynamic portion of each braking event, evaluate the parameters associated with the static portion of the braking event and evaluate the parameters associated with the dynamic portion of the braking event, and assess a state of health of the braking system based upon the evaluation of the parameters. The assessment of the state of health of the braking system is communicated to a vehicle driver via the on-board driver communication system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2017
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Chih-hung Yen, Xiaoyu Huang, Richard A. Kaatz, Robert L. Nisonger
  • Publication number: 20180312154
    Abstract: According to aspects of the present disclosure, a vehicle includes a braking system, at least one controller, and at least one memory. The braking system includes a brake fluid therein and a brake pedal. The at least one memory stores instructions that, when executed by the at least one controller, are configured to: determine, via a boiling-point module, a boiling point of a brake fluid within a braking system of a vehicle; determine, via a fluidic-properties module, fluidic properties of the brake fluid; determine, via a corrosion-inhibitor module, an amount of corrosion inhibitors within the brake fluid; determine, via a reserve-alkalinity module, a reserve alkalinity of the brake fluid; estimate, a brake-fluid life module, a remaining effective life of the brake fluid using the boiling point, the fluidic properties, the amount of corrosion inhibitors, and the reserve alkalinity; and adjust a response curve of the braking system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Chih-hung Yen, Richard A. Kaatz, Steven J. Weber, John M. Moote, Patrick M. Hanley, Xiaoyu Huang
  • Publication number: 20170058982
    Abstract: A number of variations may include a product that may include at least one working friction surface that may include at least two layers that may include a compound layer and a nitrogen diffusion layer wherein the compound layer may have a porosity ranging from about 19% to about 50%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: MICHAEL L. HOLLY, MARK T. RIEFE, RICHARD A. KAATZ, CARA L. LEARMAN, DAVID B. ANTANAITIS, LISA G. DEVOE
  • Patent number: 9581211
    Abstract: One variation includes a friction material and method of manufacture thereof wherein the friction material includes a transfer layer on a ferritically nitrocarburized component, wherein the transfer layer may be fabricated from glass, rubber, carbon, aramid fiber, filler material, abrasive, or a high-temperature resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Michael L. Holly, David B. Antanaitis, Richard A. Kaatz, Mark T. Riefe, Cara L. Learman
  • Publication number: 20150159710
    Abstract: One variation includes a friction material and method of manufacture thereof wherein the friction material includes a transfer layer on a ferritically nitrocarburized component, wherein the transfer layer may be fabricated from glass, rubber, carbon, aramid fiber, filler material, abrasive, or a high-temperature resin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Michael L. Holly, David B. Antanaitis, Richard A. Kaatz, Mark T. Riefe, Cara L. Learman