Patents by Inventor Rod Niner
Rod Niner 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: 10800363Abstract: A system includes control modules, a low-voltage communications bus, e.g., a CAN bus of a vehicle, a voltage sensor that measures a bus voltage and outputs 2.5-3.5 VDC high-data and 1.5-2.5 VDC low-data, and a host electronic control unit (ECU). The host ECU detects a recoverable fault using a data pattern in the bus voltage data when the data is outside of a calibrated range, and recalibrates the sensor. Recalibration may be by adjustment to a scaling factor and/or a bias value. Non-recoverable “stuck-at-fault”-type or “out-of-range”-type faults may be detected using the pattern, as may be a ground offset fault. A method includes measuring the bus voltage using the sensor, comparing the output data to a range to detect the fault, and isolating a sensor fault as a recoverable fault using the data pattern when the data is outside of the range. The sensor is then be recalibrated.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2017Date of Patent: October 13, 2020Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Xinyu Du, Shengbing Jiang, Dongyi Zhou, David Gumpert, Atul Nagose, Rod Niner, Aaron D. Motyl
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Publication number: 20190084510Abstract: A system includes control modules, a low-voltage communications bus, e.g., a CAN bus of a vehicle, a voltage sensor that measures a bus voltage and outputs 2.5-3.5 VDC high-data and 1.5-2.5 VDC low-data, and a host electronic control unit (ECU). The host ECU detects a recoverable fault using a data pattern in the bus voltage data when the data is outside of a calibrated range, and recalibrates the sensor. Recalibration may be by adjustment to a scaling factor and/or a bias value. Non-recoverable “stuck-at-fault”-type or “out-of-range”-type faults may be detected using the pattern, as may be a ground offset fault. A method includes measuring the bus voltage using the sensor, comparing the output data to a range to detect the fault, and isolating a sensor fault as a recoverable fault using the data pattern when the data is outside of the range. The sensor is then be recalibrated.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2017Publication date: March 21, 2019Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Xinyu Du, Shengbing Jiang, Dongyi Zhou, David Gumpert, Atul Nagose, Rod Niner, Aaron D. Motyl
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Patent number: 9989575Abstract: A method is disclosed for detecting ground faults in a communications system. The method includes measuring a predetermined number of voltage points; determining if the measured voltage points represent recessive or dominant bits; identifying which of the predetermined number of voltage points represent inter-frame bits and which represent frame data bits based on whether the measured voltage points are recessive or dominant; calculating a maximum average voltage for the inter-frame bits; calculating an average frame voltage for all dominant bits within a frame; determining a high average dominant voltage count based on a number of frames for which the average frame voltage is greater than a high voltage threshold; and determining if a ground fault exists based on the average frame voltage and the high average dominant voltage count.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2015Date of Patent: June 5, 2018Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Xinyu Du, Shengbing Jiang, Atul Nagose, David B. Gumpert, Aaron B. Bloom, Rod Niner
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Publication number: 20160320441Abstract: A method is disclosed for detecting ground faults in a communications system. The method includes measuring a predetermined number of voltage points; determining if the measured voltage points represent recessive or dominant bits; identifying which of the predetermined number of voltage points represent inter-frame bits and which represent frame data bits based on whether the measured voltage points are recessive or dominant; calculating a maximum average voltage for the inter-frame bits; calculating an average frame voltage for all dominant bits within a frame; determining a high average dominant voltage count based on a number of frames for which the average frame voltage is greater than a high voltage threshold; and determining if a ground fault exists based on the average frame voltage and the high average dominant voltage count.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2015Publication date: November 3, 2016Inventors: Xinyu Du, Shengbing Jiang, Atul Nagose, David B. Gumpert, Aaron B. Bloom, Rod Niner
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Patent number: 9455435Abstract: Apparatus are provided for receiving power from an external source. The apparatus includes a first electrical contact exposed to an exterior power source, a second electrical contact hardwired to an electrical bus, a separation device in physical contact with both the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact and conditionally insulating the first contact from the second contact and an electrical circuit configured to detect a voltage of the exterior power source and to physically modify the separation device to electrically connect the second contact to the exterior power source when a condition is met.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2013Date of Patent: September 27, 2016Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Rod Niner, Robert J. Schwabel, Brian J. Ciesinski
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Publication number: 20150162591Abstract: Apparatus are provided for receiving power from an external source. The apparatus includes a first electrical contact exposed to an exterior power source, a second electrical contact hardwired to an electrical bus, a separation device in physical contact with both the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact and conditionally insulating the first contact from the second contact and an electrical circuit configured to detect a voltage of the exterior power source and to physically modify the separation device to electrically connect the second contact to the exterior power source when a condition is met.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2013Publication date: June 11, 2015Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: ROD NINER, ROBERT J. SCHWABEL, BRIAN J. CIESINSKI
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Patent number: 8925083Abstract: Preventing spoofing in an automotive network includes monitoring, by electronic control unit, data packets on a bus in the automotive network. Upon determining, in response to the monitoring, that a data packet is from a source other than the electronic control unit, the preventing spoofing in the automotive network includes generating and transmitting a diagnostic message to at least one module in the automotive network over the bus, the diagnostic message instructing the at least one module to take no action on the data packet.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2012Date of Patent: December 30, 2014Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Rod Niner, Mark H. Costin
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Patent number: 8299971Abstract: A control module has a conductive metal chassis with a chassis body and a chassis lid. A non-conductive opening is formed within the chassis body and a tab extends from the chassis lid engaging edges of the non-conductive opening to create a rectangularly-shaped non-conductive aperture with a longitudinal axis having a predetermined length for forming a slot antenna structure. The predetermined length is designed to communicate with a specific communications frequency. The slot antenna structure is signally interconnected to a transceiver housed within the chassis.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2010Date of Patent: October 30, 2012Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Timothy J. Talty, Rod Niner, Fred W. Huntzicker
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Patent number: 8280307Abstract: An integrated wireless antenna/transceiver module that has particular application for use on a vehicle. The module includes a plurality of antenna radiating elements integrated on a circuit board where a separate radiating element is typically provided for each wireless application desirable for the particular vehicle. The module further includes a separate transceiver integrated on the circuit board where each transceiver is electrically coupled to a particular radiating element. Each of the transceivers is also electrically coupled to a local area network hub that receives signals from the transceiver, where the hub multiplexes the signals onto a digital interface to be sent to the particular application in the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2010Date of Patent: October 2, 2012Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Timothy J. Talty, Alan T. Budyta, Daniel L. Hart, Rod Niner, Duane S. Carper
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Patent number: 7911080Abstract: An automotive electrical system and a method for managing an automotive electrical system including a battery are provided. A state of charge of the battery is determined. An electrical system function is prevented from being performed based on the determined state of charge of the battery.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2008Date of Patent: March 22, 2011Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Karin L. Turski, Rod Niner
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Publication number: 20100245184Abstract: A control module has a conductive metal chassis with a chassis body and a chassis lid. A non-conductive opening is formed within the chassis body and a tab extends from the chassis lid engaging edges of the non-conductive opening to create a rectangularly-shaped non-conductive aperture with a longitudinal axis having a predetermined length for forming a slot antenna structure. The predetermined length is designed to communicate with a specific communications frequency. The slot antenna structure is signally interconnected to a transceiver housed within the chassis.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2010Publication date: September 30, 2010Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Timothy J. Talty, Rod Niner, Fred W. Huntzicker
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Publication number: 20100202353Abstract: An integrated wireless antenna/transceiver module that has particular application for use on a vehicle. The module includes a plurality of antenna radiating elements integrated on a circuit board where a separate radiating element is typically provided for each wireless application desirable for the particular vehicle. The module further includes a separate transceiver integrated on the circuit board where each transceiver is electrically coupled to a particular radiating element. Each of the transceivers is also electrically coupled to a local area network hub that receives signals from the transceiver, where the hub multiplexes the signals onto a digital interface to be sent to the particular application in the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2010Publication date: August 12, 2010Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Timothy J. Talty, Alan T. Budyta, Daniel L. Hart, Rod Niner, Duane S. Carper
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Publication number: 20100102630Abstract: An automotive electrical system and a method for managing an automotive electrical system including a battery are provided. A state of charge of the battery is determined. An electrical system function is prevented from being performed based on the determined state of charge of the battery.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2008Publication date: April 29, 2010Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: KARIN L. TURSKI, ROD NINER