Patents by Inventor Suresh Gopalakrishnan

Suresh Gopalakrishnan 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).

  • Publication number: 20240297516
    Abstract: A system for supplying power to one or more electrical loads in a vehicle includes a conversion system connected to a battery system, the battery system configured to provide a voltage to a propulsion system of the vehicle via a propulsion bus, the conversion system including a conversion device and a pre-charge circuit selectively connected to the propulsion bus by a first switch, the conversion system selectively connected to the one or more electrical loads. The system also includes a controller configured to operate the conversion system to electrically connect the conversion device and the pre-charge circuit to the battery system and the one or more electrical loads, the controller configured to adjust a battery system voltage from the battery system to a load voltage of the one or more electrical loads based on a mismatch between the battery system voltage and the load voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2023
    Publication date: September 5, 2024
    Inventors: Chunhao J. Lee, Dongxu Li, Suresh Gopalakrishnan, Lei Hao, Chandra S. Namuduri
  • Patent number: 12074466
    Abstract: A system for controlling propulsion in a vehicle includes a switching system connected to a battery system connected to a drive unit and to one or more electrical loads by a propulsion bus. A controller is configured to control the switching system to vary a voltage applied to the drive unit. The controller is configured to receive a request to transition between operating modes, the transition including a change of a voltage applied to the drive unit from an initial voltage level to a target voltage level. The controller is configured to sequentially perform deactivating the one or more electrical loads, based on the target voltage being higher than the initial voltage, pre-charging the one or more electrical loads, based on the target voltage being lower than the initial voltage, performing a discharge procedure, and operating the switching system to apply the voltage at the target voltage level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Chunhao J. Lee, Suresh Gopalakrishnan, Dongxu Li, Muhammad Hussain Alvi, Yongjie Zhu
  • Patent number: 12074590
    Abstract: A system in a vehicle includes a first fuse connected between a power source and a load. The first fuse is an electronic fuse (eFuse) to disconnect the load from the power source via the first fuse based on opening a first fuse switch. The system also includes a second fuse connected between the power source and the load via a second fuse switch. The first fuse and the second fuse are part of a cluster of fuses. A controller opens the first fuse switch and keeps the second fuse switch closed based on the vehicle entering a key-off mode in which the vehicle is turned off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Suresh Gopalakrishnan, Chandra S. Namuduri, Lyall Kenneth Winger, James M. Morrison
  • Publication number: 20240270187
    Abstract: Examples described herein provide a method for managing current in a low voltage bus of a vehicle. The method includes receiving an electrical load request for an electrical load of the vehicle. The method further includes, prior to enabling the electrical load, adjusting a current provided by a direct current (DC)/DC converter for a period of time based at least in part on the electrical load. The method further includes, responsive to expiration of the period of time, enabling or disabling the electrical load based at least in part on the electrical load request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2023
    Publication date: August 15, 2024
    Inventors: Mohamed Kamel, Suresh Gopalakrishnan
  • Publication number: 20240270188
    Abstract: A vehicle, wakeup circuit and method of operating the vehicle. The vehicle includes a high voltage bus. The wakeup circuit includes an enable circuit electrically isolated from a high voltage bus. A key-on signal is received at the enable circuit. A wakeup signal is generated at the enable circuit in response to the key-on signal. An electrical load is activated in response to the wakeup signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2023
    Publication date: August 15, 2024
    Inventors: Mohamed Ahmed Kamel Ahmed, Chandra S. Namuduri, Muhammad Hussain Alvi, Suresh Gopalakrishnan
  • Publication number: 20240266924
    Abstract: A choke device for an electric machine system is provided. The choke device includes a common-mode choke including a magnetic core configured in cross-section as a geometric shape including a hollow center. The choke device further includes a plurality of electric transmission lines configured for transmitting electrical energy in alternating current, wherein the plurality of electric transmission lines is routed through the hollow center. The geometric shape includes a number of sides based upon a number of the electric transmission lines present and is configured for minimizing or reducing an overall flux length of the magnetic core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2023
    Publication date: August 8, 2024
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Yilun Luo, Chandra S. Namuduri, Suresh Gopalakrishnan, Muhammad H. Alvi, Azadeh Narimissa, William T. Ivan, Saranraj Karuppuswami
  • Publication number: 20240253517
    Abstract: An electric vehicle includes a drive system which operates a method of transferring power between the vehicle and an external power grid. The drive system includes a battery, a rectifier, and a processor. The processor is configured to connect the rectifier between an alternating current (AC) port of an outlet of an external power grid and the battery, the rectifier configured to convert between an AC power at the AC port on a grid side of the rectifier and a direct current (DC) power at a vehicle side of the rectifier in order to transfer power bi-directionally between the external power grid and the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2023
    Publication date: August 1, 2024
    Inventors: Lei Hao, Suresh Gopalakrishnan, Peng Peng, Dongxu Li, Chandra S. Namuduri, Muhammad Hussain Alvi
  • Patent number: 12051985
    Abstract: An electric machine includes: a first stator winding including first and second stator winding portions; a second stator winding including third and fourth stator winding portions; a third stator winding including fifth and sixth stator winding portions, where inputs of the stator windings are configured to be connected to phases, respectively, of an inverter; and switches connected between the stator winding portions and outputs of a power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Lei Hao, Suresh Gopalakrishnan, Chandra S. Namuduri, Dongxu Li
  • Publication number: 20240246451
    Abstract: A smart energy center for a vehicle is provided. The smart energy center includes a buck convertor configured to provide power to a first load that has a substantially constant resistance level and a boost converter configured to provide power to a second load that requires a minimum voltage level and substantially constant power level. The smart energy center also includes a buck-boost converter configured to provide power to a third load that requires a voltage level within a threshold range and an electronic fuse configured to provide power to a fourth load. The smart energy center further includes a controller configured to operate the buck convertor, the boost converter, the buck-boost converter, and the electronic fuse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2023
    Publication date: July 25, 2024
    Inventors: Chandra S. Namuduri, Suresh Gopalakrishnan, Infane Lowe, Xinyu Du, Lyall Kenneth Winger
  • Patent number: 12046946
    Abstract: A vehicle, an electrical system of the vehicle and a method of operating the vehicle. The electrical system includes a battery, an electrical load that draws power from the battery, a switch between the battery and the electrical load, and a processor. The processor is configured to measure a power drawn from the battery by the electrical load and open the switch to disconnect the battery from the electrical load when the power drawn by the electrical load matches a selected criterion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Suresh Gopalakrishnan, Chandra S. Namuduri, Norman K. Bucknor, Lyall Kenneth Winger, James Morrison, David W. Walters
  • Publication number: 20240239235
    Abstract: A battery system for an electric vehicle includes at least one battery cell configured to store charge for powering an electric vehicle, a high voltage bus electrically coupled with the at least one battery, a DC-DC converter electrically coupled with the battery cell, a low voltage bus electrically connected between the DC-DC converter and at least one vehicle electrical component, and a cell monitor electrically coupled with the at least one battery cell and the DC-DC converter, wherein the cell monitor includes a current sensor configured to detect a current from the at least one battery cell to the DC-DC converter. The cell monitor includes a controller configured to estimate a state of charge of the at least one battery cell according to the current detected by the current sensor, and adjust switching operation of the DC-DC converter according to the current detected by the current sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2023
    Publication date: July 18, 2024
    Inventors: Mohamed Ahmed Kamel AHMED, Chandra S. Namuduri, Suresh Gopalakrishnan
  • Publication number: 20240241001
    Abstract: A vehicle and a drive system include a method of operating the vehicle. In another exemplary embodiment, a drive system of a vehicle is disclosed. The drive system includes a first sensor, a second sensor and a processor. The first sensor is disposed at a first location of the drive system for measuring a first angle of rotation. The second sensor is disposed at a second location of the drive system for measuring a second angle of rotation. The processor is configured to determine a torque transferred between the first location and the second location based on a difference between the first angle of rotation and the second angle of rotation and control an operation of the drive system based on the torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2023
    Publication date: July 18, 2024
    Inventors: Dongxu Li, Chunhao J. Lee, Farzad Samie, Paul Guillermo Otanez, Suresh Gopalakrishnan
  • Publication number: 20240243667
    Abstract: An energy storage system includes a plurality of batteries coupled in series, a plurality of first isolated DC-DC power converters each having first and second sides, a DC bus coupled to the second sides of the plurality of first isolated DC-DC power converters, and a second isolated DC-DC power converter coupled in parallel with the plurality of first isolated DC-DC power converters. Each of the first sides of the plurality of first isolated DC-DC power converters is coupled to at least one of the batteries. The second isolated DC-DC power converter includes a first side coupled to the plurality of batteries and a second side coupled to the DC bus. The second isolated DC-DC power converter is configured to mitigate a transient load condition on the DC bus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2023
    Publication date: July 18, 2024
    Inventors: Mohamed Ahmed Kamel AHMED, Chandra S. Namuduri, Rashmi Prasad, Suresh Gopalakrishnan, Lyall Kenneth Winger
  • Publication number: 20240239236
    Abstract: An energy storage system includes a plurality of batteries coupled in series, a plurality of DC-DC power converters each having first and second sides, a DC bus coupled to the second sides of the DC-DC power converters, and at least one controller coupled to at least one DC-DC power converter. Each of the DC-DC power converters is configured to operate in a plurality of operating modes. The at least one controller configured to receive a plurality of operating characteristics of the at least one DC-DC power converter and a plurality of setpoints, select an operating mode of the plurality of operating modes for the at least one DC-DC power converter, and control the at least one DC-DC power converter to operate in the selected operating mode based on at least one of the operating characteristics and at least one of the setpoints.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2023
    Publication date: July 18, 2024
    Inventors: Chandra S. NAMUDURI, Mohamed Ahmed Kamel AHMED, Muhammad Hussain ALVI, Suresh GOPALAKRISHNAN
  • Patent number: 12036884
    Abstract: A charging system includes a scalable power source for powering a motor of a vehicle and telematics and battery management modules. The scalable power source includes: N battery packs, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 3; and multiple switches connected to the N battery packs including N?1 switches for serially connecting the N battery packs between supply and return lines and a multiple of N switches for parallel connecting the N battery packs to the supply and return lines. The telematics module requests capability of a charging station and receives a response signal from a device indicating the capability of the charging station. The battery management module: based on the capability of the charging station, selects one of the available arrangements in which to connect the N battery packs, sets states of the multiple switches; and then charges the N battery packs based on the states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Rashmi Prasad, Chandra S. Namuduri, Suresh Gopalakrishnan, Thomas W. Nehl, David J. Brooks
  • Publication number: 20240235216
    Abstract: A system for controlling propulsion in a vehicle includes a switching system connected to a battery system connected to a drive unit and to one or more electrical loads by a propulsion bus. A controller is configured to control the switching system to vary a voltage applied to the drive unit. The controller is configured to receive a request to transition between operating modes, the transition including a change of a voltage applied to the drive unit from an initial voltage level to a target voltage level. The controller is configured to sequentially perform deactivating the one or more electrical loads, based on the target voltage being higher than the initial voltage, pre-charging the one or more electrical loads, based on the target voltage being lower than the initial voltage, performing a discharge procedure, and operating the switching system to apply the voltage at the target voltage level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2023
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Inventors: Chunhao J. Lee, Suresh Gopalakrishnan, Dongxu Li, Muhammad Hussain Alvi, Yongjie Zhu
  • Patent number: 12034134
    Abstract: A battery system for a vehicle includes a battery tray having a base wall, a plurality of side walls, and a cover that collectively define a receiving zone. A vent includes an inlet and an outlet exposed to the battery receiving zone. A battery is supported by the base wall. A battery electronic controller (BEC) is arranged in the receiving zone and directly connected to the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Lyall Kenneth Winger, Dave Gerard Rich, James Morrison, Suresh Gopalakrishnan, Chandra S. Namuduri
  • Publication number: 20240217460
    Abstract: Examples described herein provide a method for predicting electrical failures within a vehicle. The method includes selectively enabling and disabling an electrical load for the vehicle. The method further includes collecting operational data about the electrical load during the selectively enabling and disabling of the electrical load. The method further includes training the model based at least in part on the operational data to predict a failure associated with the electrical load or a wiring harness associated with the electrical load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2023
    Publication date: July 4, 2024
    Inventors: Xinyu Du, Lyall Kenneth Winger, Infane Lowe, Suresh Gopalakrishnan
  • Publication number: 20240217366
    Abstract: A method for charging an electric vehicle is provided. Aspects include configuring a switchable battery of the electric vehicle in a fast-charging configuration by connecting a first battery pack of the switchable battery to a first charging source and a second battery pack of the switchable battery to a second charging source and obtaining one or more characteristics of the first battery pack and the second battery pack. Aspects also include identifying the first battery pack as a master pack and the second battery pack as a follower pack based on a determination that the first battery pack has a lower voltage level than the second battery pack. Aspects further include adjusting a duty cycle of a switchable active load connected in parallel to the follower pack based on the one or more characteristics of the first battery pack and the second battery pack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2023
    Publication date: July 4, 2024
    Inventors: Ibrahim Haskara, Venkata Prasad Atluri, Norman K. Bucknor, Chandra S. Namuduri, Suresh Gopalakrishnan
  • Patent number: 12027908
    Abstract: A system in a vehicle includes a first set of one or more windings and a second set of one or more windings electrically isolated from the first set of one or more windings. The system also includes a first inverter coupled to a battery of the vehicle and the first set of one or more windings and a second inverter electrically separated from the first inverter and coupled to the second set of one or more windings. A universal charger includes an alternative current (AC) charging port and a direct current (DC) charging port. A switch is controlled to close to connect the second inverter to the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Lei Hao, Suresh Gopalakrishnan, Chandra S. Namuduri, Dongxu Li