Patents by Inventor Weichao Kong

Weichao Kong 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: 20230306754
    Abstract: A method includes determining that an object has fallen to a surface of interest in an interior cabin of a vehicle during a transportation service provided using the vehicle; tracking a location of the object on the surface of interest using at least one interior sensor; updating tracking information for the object, the tracking information including the tracked location of the object and a time at which the location was tracked; inferring a continued existence of the object after the object has moved out of a view of the at least one interior sensor and tagging the object as obscured from view in the tracking information for the object; identifying a user associated with the transportation service; and alerting the identified user to retrieve the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2022
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Applicant: GM Cruise Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Nestor Grace, Katelyn Mary Wolfenberger, Hooman Barekatain, Danyan Qian, Weichao Kong
  • Publication number: 20230112527
    Abstract: A method of conducting a diagnostic test to determine leakage within a brake system includes first providing a brake system having a plunger assembly including a housing defining a bore therein. The plunger assembly includes a piston slidably disposed therein such that movement of the piston pressurizes a pressure chamber when the piston is moved in a first direction. The pressure chamber of the plunger assembly is in fluid communication with an output, and wherein the plunger assembly further includes an electrically operated linear actuator for moving the piston within the bore. The linear actuator of the plunger assembly is actuated to provide pressure at the output of the plunger assembly at a first predetermined level. The pressure at the output of the plunger assembly is held for a predetermined length of time. The method further includes determining whether conditional criteria has been met indicating a leakage within the brake system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2022
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Applicant: ZF Active Safety US Inc.
    Inventors: Greg Timm, Patrick Hartman, Weichao Kong
  • Patent number: 11535211
    Abstract: A method of determining a homing position of a piston within a plunger assembly for a vehicle brake system at the beginning of an ignition cycle of the vehicle includes first providing a plunger assembly having a housing defining a bore therein. The plunger assembly includes a piston slidably disposed in the bore for pressurizing fluid within a pressure chamber when the piston is moved in a first direction. The plunger assembly further includes an electrically operated linear actuator for moving the piston within the bore. The method further includes providing electrical power to the linear actuator of the plunger assembly. The linear actuator is actuated to retract the piston in a second direction opposite the first direction towards an end stop. The piston engaging with the end stop is then detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: ZF Active Safety US Inc.
    Inventors: Wendy Zhang, Patrick Hartman, Weichao Kong
  • Patent number: 11535227
    Abstract: A method of conducting a diagnostic test to determine leakage within a brake system includes first providing a brake system having a plunger assembly including a housing defining a bore therein. The plunger assembly includes a piston slidably disposed therein such that movement of the piston pressurizes a pressure chamber when the piston is moved in a first direction. The pressure chamber of the plunger assembly is in fluid communication with an output, and wherein the plunger assembly further includes an electrically operated linear actuator for moving the piston within the bore. The linear actuator of the plunger assembly is actuated to provide pressure at the output of the plunger assembly at a first predetermined level. The pressure at the output of the plunger assembly is held for a predetermined length of time. The method further includes determining whether conditional criteria has been met indicating a leakage within the brake system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: ZF Active Safety US Inc.
    Inventors: Greg Timm, Patrick Hartman, Weichao Kong
  • Publication number: 20210070273
    Abstract: A method of conducting a diagnostic test to determine leakage within a brake system includes first providing a brake system having a plunger assembly including a housing defining a bore therein. The plunger assembly includes a piston slidably disposed therein such that movement of the piston pressurizes a pressure chamber when the piston is moved in a first direction. The pressure chamber of the plunger assembly is in fluid communication with an output, and wherein the plunger assembly further includes an electrically operated linear actuator for moving the piston within the bore. The linear actuator of the plunger assembly is actuated to provide pressure at the output of the plunger assembly at a first predetermined level. The pressure at the output of the plunger assembly is held for a predetermined length of time. The method further includes determining whether conditional criteria has been met indicating a leakage within the brake system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2018
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Applicant: ZF Active Safety US Inc.
    Inventors: Greg Timm, Partick Hartman, Weichao Kong
  • Publication number: 20210061240
    Abstract: A method of determining a homing position of a piston within a plunger assembly for a vehicle brake system at the beginning of an ignition cycle of the vehicle includes first providing a plunger assembly having a housing defining a bore therein. The plunger assembly includes a piston slidably disposed in the bore for pressurizing fluid within a pressure chamber when the piston is moved in a first direction. The plunger assembly further includes an electrically operated linear actuator for moving the piston within the bore. The method further includes providing electrical power to the linear actuator of the plunger assembly. The linear actuator is actuated to retract the piston in a second direction opposite the first direction towards an end stop. The piston engaging with the end stop is then detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2018
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Applicant: ZF Active Safety US Inc.
    Inventors: Wendy Zhang, Patrick Hartman, Weichao Kong
  • Publication number: 20200339096
    Abstract: A method of conducting a diagnostic test to determine leakage within a brake system includes first pressurizing the brake system. The pressure within the brake system is held for a predetermined length of time. The method further includes determining whether a leakage within the brake system has occurred.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2018
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Applicant: ZF Active Safety US Inc.
    Inventors: Greg Timm, Patrick Hartman, Weichao Kong