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: 20240063655
    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: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2022
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Inventors: Suresh Gopalakrishnan, Chandra S. Namuduri, Norman K. Bucknor, Lyall Kenneth Winger, James Morrison, David W. Walters
  • Publication number: 20240053404
    Abstract: A low voltage system of a vehicle having a battery, one of a generator and an accessory power module (APM), one or more low voltage load, and a smart energy center. The smart energy center having a first electronic fuse configured to selectively connect the smart energy center to the battery, a second electronic fuse configured to selectively connect the smart energy center to the one of the generator and the APM, and a third electronic fuse configured to selectively connect the smart energy center to the one or more low voltage load. The smart energy center further comprising a plurality of sensors and a controller configured to selectively activate and deactivate the first electronic fuse, the second electronic fuse, and the third electronic fuse based at least in part on data received from the plurality of sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2022
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Inventors: Xinyu Du, Lyall Kenneth Winger, Infane Lowe, Suresh Gopalakrishnan
  • Patent number: 11901844
    Abstract: A method of controlling an electric motor of a vehicle includes monitoring torque command signals from a vehicle system to the electric motor, each torque command signal configured to cause the electric motor to output a commanded torque, and monitoring a speed of the vehicle and an output torque of the electric motor, the output torque responsive to a drive signal generated based on the torque command signals. The method also includes, based on the output torque and the vehicle speed indicating a low motor efficiency condition, modulating the drive signal between a first torque value and a second torque value that is less than the first torque value, the first torque value greater than the commanded torque and selected to increase an efficiency of the electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Chandra S. Namuduri, Suresh Gopalakrishnan, Norman K. Bucknor, Alireza Fatemi, Thomas W. Nehl
  • Publication number: 20240047979
    Abstract: A system in an electric or hybrid vehicle includes two or more battery packs to power one or more motors of the vehicle to move the vehicle. A controller dynamically activates an operational mode of the vehicle during vehicle operation, the operational mode being one of a plurality of possible operational modes. Each of the possible operational modes defines which of the two or more battery packs are connected to the one or more motors and, based on two or more of the two or more battery packs being connected to the one or more motors, also defines an interconnection among the two or more of the two or more battery packs. The plurality of possible operational modes includes a first operational mode defining a series connection between the two or more battery packs and second operational mode defining a parallel connection between the two or more battery packs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2022
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Inventors: Chunhao J. Lee, Yongjie Zhu, Suresh Gopalakrishnan, Dongxu Li, Chen-fang Chang, Junfeng Zhao, Matthew Rademacher
  • Patent number: 11890958
    Abstract: A system in a vehicle includes a first winding section including first two or more windings and a second winding section including second two or more windings. Each of the second two or more windings corresponds to one of the first two or more windings of the first winding section. The system also includes an inverter including a high side switch and a low side switch corresponding to each of the first two or more windings. The inverter is coupled to a battery of the vehicle and boosts a voltage of a direct current (DC) charger during charging of the battery with the DC charger, converts alternating current (AC) from an AC grid to DC during charging of the battery with the AC grid, and converts DC to AC during supply of the AC grid by the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Rashmi Prasad, Chandra S. Namuduri, Lei Hao, Suresh Gopalakrishnan
  • Publication number: 20240025271
    Abstract: An electric vehicle, an electric drive system and method of operating the electric vehicle. The electric drive system provides a torque to a wheel of the electric vehicle. The processor is configured to obtain a value of the torque at which the electric drive system of the vehicle is operating, determine an optimal speed for the vehicle for the torque based on an efficiency model of the electric drive system, wherein the optimal speed corresponds to an optimal drive efficiency for the electric drive system, and operate the vehicle at the optimal speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2022
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Inventors: Muhammad Hussain Alvi, Chunhao J. Lee, Suresh Gopalakrishnan, Junfeng Zhao, Chen-fang Chang
  • Publication number: 20240027501
    Abstract: A system includes a current sensor disposed proximate to a first conductor of a conductor assembly, the current sensor configured to measure a current through the first conductor and generate a first current measurement. The system also includes a correction module configured to perform a correction method. The correction method includes determining a frequency of the first current measurement, and applying a gain correction factor to the first current measurement, the gain correction factor based on pre-characterization data relating a gain of a reference current sensor to frequency. In addition, or alternatively, the correction method includes determining a first phase of the first current measurement, acquiring a second current measurement of a second conductor of the conductor assembly, determining a second phase of the second current measurement, and applying a current adjustment to the first current measurement based on a temporal relationship between the first phase and the second phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Inventors: Muhammad Hussain Alvi, Suresh Gopalakrishnan
  • Patent number: 11865932
    Abstract: Examples described herein provide a method that includes determining whether a vehicle is operating in a first high voltage mode or a second high voltage mode. The method further includes, responsive to determining that the vehicle is operating in the first high voltage mode, providing electric power to an electric motor at a first high voltage and providing electric power to an auxiliary device at a second high voltage that is different than the first high voltage. The method further includes, responsive to determining that the vehicle is operating in the second high voltage mode, providing electric power to the electric motor at the second high voltage and providing electric power to the auxiliary device at the second high voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Dongxu Li, Lei Hao, Chunhao J. Lee, Suresh Gopalakrishnan, Junfeng Zhao
  • Publication number: 20230420763
    Abstract: A device for thermal control of a battery system includes a heating control module electrically connected to the battery system and a conversion device configured to control power output from the battery system. The heating control module is configured to measure a current through the conversion device, the measured current provided by the battery system of a vehicle during vehicle operation or provided by an energy source during vehicle charging. The heating control module is also configured to control the conversion device to generate an alternating current (AC) heating current using the measured current, and apply the AC heating current to the battery system to heat the battery system to a desired temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2022
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Inventors: Neeraj S. Shidore, Chandra S. Namuduri, Lei Hao, Shuonan Xu, Suresh Gopalakrishnan, Satish P. Ketkar, Daniel Robert Tylutki
  • Publication number: 20230398887
    Abstract: Examples described herein provide a method that includes determining whether a vehicle is operating in a first high voltage mode or a second high voltage mode. The method further includes, responsive to determining that the vehicle is operating in the first high voltage mode, providing electric power to an electric motor at a first high voltage and providing electric power to an auxiliary device at a second high voltage that is different than the first high voltage. The method further includes, responsive to determining that the vehicle is operating in the second high voltage mode, providing electric power to the electric motor at the second high voltage and providing electric power to the auxiliary device at the second high voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2022
    Publication date: December 14, 2023
    Inventors: Dongxu Li, Lei Hao, Chunhao J. Lee, Suresh Gopalakrishnan, Junfeng Zhao
  • Publication number: 20230387787
    Abstract: A power control system for an electric vehicle comprises N power inverters configured to connect to a battery system of the electric vehicle. Each of the N power inverters includes a plurality of power switches, where N is an integer greater than one. The N power inverters are configured to connect to stator phase windings of N electric machines, respectively. A controller is configured to determine a switching frequency for the N electric machines and (N?1) phase offsets for (N?1) ones of the N electric machines, generate a set of pulse width modulation (PWM) switching signals at the switching frequency for a first one of the N power inverters, and output (N?1) sets of PWM switching signals to the (N?1) ones of the N electric machines based on the set of PWM switching signals and the (N?1) phase offsets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventors: Chandra S. NAMUDURI, Suresh Gopalakrishnan, Lei Hao
  • Publication number: 20230378797
    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: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2022
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Inventors: Lei Hao, Suresh Gopalakrishnan, Chandra S. Namuduri, Dongxu Li
  • Publication number: 20230365016
    Abstract: A system in a vehicle includes a first winding section including first two or more windings and a second winding section including second two or more windings. Each of the second two or more windings corresponds to one of the first two or more windings of the first winding section. The system also includes an inverter including a high side switch and a low side switch corresponding to each of the first two or more windings. The inverter is coupled to a battery of the vehicle and boosts a voltage of a direct current (DC) charger during charging of the battery with the DC charger, converts alternating current (AC) from an AC grid to DC during charging of the battery with the AC grid, and converts DC to AC during supply of the AC grid by the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2022
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Inventors: Rashmi Prasad, Chandra S. Namuduri, Lei Hao, Suresh Gopalakrishnan
  • Publication number: 20230356597
    Abstract: A vehicle, system, and method of providing electrical power to a vehicle. The electrical system includes a variable power source, a constant power source, a bus line connecting the variable power source to an electrical load of the vehicle, a switch between the bus line and the constant power source, and a processor. The processor is configured to monitor a voltage being supplied to the electrical load by the variable power source and to operate a fuse controller to close the switch between the bus line and the constant power source when the voltage being supplied to the electrical load drops below a first voltage threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2022
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Inventors: Suresh Gopalakrishnan, Chandra S. Namuduri, Lyall Kenneth Winger, James M. Morrison
  • Publication number: 20230361707
    Abstract: A system in a vehicle includes a controller to implement a neural network to provide current commands based on inputs. The inputs include a torque input. The system also includes a current controller to provide a three-phase voltage through an inverter based on the current commands from the controller. An electric traction motor provides drive power to a transmission of the vehicle based on injection of the three-phase voltage. The current commands resulting from implementation of the neural network are corrected based on estimated torque resulting from the injection of the three-phase voltage to the electric traction motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2022
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Inventors: Lei Hao, Yue-Yun Wang, Suresh Gopalakrishnan
  • Patent number: 11811212
    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 detecting a failure in the first fuse. The system also includes a second fuse connected between the power source and the load, the first fuse and the second fuse being part of a cluster of fuses. The second fuse is an eFuse and the first fuse signals the second fuse to disconnect the load from the power source via the second fuse based on the first fuse detecting the failure in the first fuse without the second fuse detecting a failure in the second fuse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Suresh Gopalakrishnan, Chandra S. Namuduri, Lyall Kenneth Winger, James Morrison
  • Publication number: 20230353136
    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: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2022
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Inventors: Suresh Gopalakrishnan, Chandra S. Namuduri, Lyall Kenneth Winger, James M. Morrison
  • Publication number: 20230344293
    Abstract: A method includes: selectively actuating switches of an inverter module and first, second, third, and fourth switches of a motor; and charging a battery with power from a charger using at least one of first, second, and third stator windings of the motor, the battery having a first voltage and being electrically connected in parallel with the inverter module, and the charger having a second voltage that is less than the first voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2022
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Inventors: Rashmi PRASAD, Chandra S. NAMUDURI, Lei HAO, Suresh GOPALAKRISHNAN
  • Publication number: 20230335870
    Abstract: A system in a vehicle includes two or more modules. Each of the two or more modules includes battery cell groups. The battery cell groups of the two or more modules provide propulsion power for the vehicle. The two or more modules also include a voltage sensor to measure a voltage output by the battery cell groups of the module, a temperature sensor arranged to measure a temperature within the module, a gas sensor arranged to sense a hydrogen level within the module, and an infrared sensor positioned to obtain an infrared radiation profile within the module. The system also includes two or more relays, one of the two or more relays being arranged to electrically isolate one of the two or more modules based on the voltage, the temperature, the hydrogen level, or the infrared radiation profile for the one of the two or more modules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2022
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Inventors: Venkata Prasad Atluri, Jeremie Dernotte, Suresh Gopalakrishnan, Chandra S. Namuduri
  • Publication number: 20230313771
    Abstract: A valve system of a vehicle includes: a housing that is electrically conductive and made of a metal and that includes: an inlet configured to receive a fluid; an outlet configured to output the fluid; and a fluid channel fluidly connecting the inlet and the outlet; a pintle disposed within the housing and that is electrically conductive and made of a metal; a ball that is mechanically fastened to the pintle, that is configured to close the outlet, and that is electrically conductive and made of a metal; an armature that is mechanically fastened to the pintle, that is disposed within the housing, and that is electrically conductive and made of a metal; a solenoid coil that is disposed within the housing and that surrounds the pintle; and an electrically insulative material configured to insulate the pintle from the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2022
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Inventors: Chandra S. NAMUDURI, Thomas W. Nehl, Avoki M. Omekanda, Suresh Gopalakrishnan