Patents by Inventor Xiujie Gao

Xiujie Gao 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: 7597616
    Abstract: A vent includes a vane configured for spatial movement, and at least one actuator in operative communication with the vane configured to spatially move the vane in at least one direction, wherein the actuator comprises an active material configured to undergo a change in at least one property upon receipt of an activation signal, wherein the change in at least one property is effective to selectively change an orientation of the vane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan L. Browne, Robin Stevenson, Nancy L. Johnson, Nilesh D. Mankame, Xiujie Gao, Paul W. Alexander, James Bloomsburgh, John Czoykowski, Neal Parsons, Jason R. Spenny
  • Publication number: 20090223604
    Abstract: An apparatus for and method of conditioning a thermally activated shape memory alloy wire for use in an application, wherein the apparatus includes an adjustable hard-stop and the preferred method includes pre-determining a minimum activating current, allowable strain, and a loading magnitude and form based on the wire configuration and application, and further includes applying a double-exponential model to determine a final recoverable strain over fewer cycles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2009
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Applicants: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC, THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
    Inventors: Jonathan E. Luntz, John Andrew Shaw, Diann Brei, Christopher Burton Churchill, Anupam Pathak, Nilesh D. Mankame, Alan L. Browne, Nancy L. Johnson, Paul W. Alexander, Xiujie Gao, Pablo D. Zavattieri
  • Publication number: 20090226691
    Abstract: A cable adapted for use as an actuator, adaptive structural member, or damper, includes a plurality of longitudinally inter-engaged and cooperatively functioning shape memory alloy wires.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Applicants: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC. THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
    Inventors: Nilesh D. Mankame, John Andrew Shaw, Benjamin Reedlunn, Alan L. Browne, Xiujie Gao, Paul W. Alexander, Jan H. Aase, Nancy L. Johnson, Kenneth A. Strom, Sanjeev M. Naik, Chandra S. Namuduri, Robin Stevenson, William R. Rodgers, John C. Ulicny, Christopher P. Henry, Paul E. Krajewski, Ravindra Brammajyosula
  • Publication number: 20090178397
    Abstract: A servo system includes pressurized fluid, and one or more fluid control devices (FCD) such as a valve or actuator, with at least one FCD having an element with a variable property that varies in response to a stimulus. The FCD controls a flow rate or pressure transmission of the fluid within the servo system. The element may include an active return spring having a variable stiffness. The servo system may operate as an interlock system for a transmission. A method for moving an output load using a servo system includes providing a first FCD with an active element, connecting an output load to a second FCD, activating the active element with a stimulus to vary a property of the active element, transmitting a force from the pressurized fluid to the second FCD, and moving the output load from a first position to a second position in response to the force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Nilesh D. Mankame, Norman K. Bucknor, Alan L. Browne, Paul W. Alexander, Brian W. Whitmarsh, Nancy L. Johnson, Stephen W. Powell, Patrick B. Usoro, Xiujie Gao
  • Publication number: 20090173305
    Abstract: An active air intake adapted for selectively regulating fluid flow into an engine generally includes a housing defining an opening, a covering member disposed relative to the opening and translatable between opened and closed conditions, an actuator including an active material element operable to effect movement of the member, a load limit protector configured to present a secondary output path for the element, an overheat protection mechanism for preventing unintentional activation and stress loads in the element, a biasing mechanism for returning the member to the original condition, and a latching mechanism for retaining the member in the closed condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2008
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Paul W. Alexander, Alan L. Browne, Xiujie Gao, Thomas H. Froling, Richard J. Skurkis, Matthew D. Scrase, Clifford Jason Yee, Evan P. Joranlien, Mark D. Dickens, Arnold G. Warner, Laurence M. Lemaire
  • Publication number: 20090074993
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a cover system can comprise: a cover and an active material component in operable communication with the cover. The active material component can comprise an active material that enables the deployment and retraction of the cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2007
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiujie Gao, Alan L. Browne, Nancy L. Johnson, Guillermo A. Herrera, Geoffrey P. Mc Knight, Christopher P. Henry, Andrew C. Keefe
  • Publication number: 20080296926
    Abstract: A vehicle is provided having a sensor for detecting a vehicle occupant's presence, and another sensor for detecting an owner's response with respect to automatically opening a vehicle closure panel. An actuator opens the closure panel when the occupant's presence and response are detected. A signal from an emitter outside the vehicle signals occupant presence. A photoelectric and/or optical device, audio receiver, and/or touch-sensitive sensor detects the response. The optical device projects a light beam, and breaking the beam with a gesture signals the response. An automatic closure panel opening apparatus has an RF receiver adapted to receive an RF signal to detect occupant presence, a sensor for detecting the occupant response, and an actuator for opening the closure panel when both the presence and occupant response are detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Andrew J. Hanzel, Louise E. Stauffer, Maurice J. Gisler, Xiujie Gao, Craig A. Kollar, Jack L. Bailey, Gregory Lynn Dantzler, Michael Reber White
  • Publication number: 20080120911
    Abstract: A door system includes a structural member and a door being selectively movable with respect to the structural member. An actuator includes an active material that is configured to change at least one attribute in response to an activation signal. The actuator is configured such that the change in at least one attribute causes the door to move relative to the structural member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Alan L. Browne, Nancy L. Johnson, Xiujie Gao, Jack L. Bailey
  • Publication number: 20080100092
    Abstract: A door system includes a structural member and a door that is movably mounted with respect to the structural member for movement between an open position and a closed position. A spring is mounted with respect to the structural member or the door and being sufficiently positioned to bias the door toward its open position when the door is in its closed position. Active material based actuators may selectively compress the spring prior to door closure to minimize door closing effort.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Xiujie Gao, James Shoemaker, Paul Alexander, Alan Browne, Nancy Johnson, Nilesh Mankame, Louise Stauffer, Robert Vitale, Jack Bailey
  • Publication number: 20080034749
    Abstract: An active material actuator assembly is provided having first and second active material components operatively connected to a movable member. Movement of the movable member is modulated, which may be due to activation of the first and second active material components being at least partially temporally distinct or the active material components differing in at least one characteristic affecting movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2006
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Inventors: Ukpai I. Ukpai, Norman K. Bucknor, Xiujie Gao, Alan L. Browne, Nancy L. Johnson, Andrew C. Keefe, Guillermo A. Herrera
  • Publication number: 20080034750
    Abstract: Active material actuator assemblies are provided that enable simplified control systems and faster actuator cycle times. A movable member is provided that has multiple active material components operatively connected to it. The active material components are separately selectively activatable for moving the movable member. Movement of the movable member via activation of a first of the active material components triggers activation of the second active material component to further move the movable member. Alternatively or in addition, previously activated active material components are protected from undesired stretching during activation of another active material component or, when desired, an active material component may be reset via activation of another of the active material components in order to prepare it for subsequent activation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2006
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Inventors: Xiujie Gao, Alan L. Browne, Nancy L. Johnson, Ukpai I. Ukpai
  • Publication number: 20070246285
    Abstract: A seat assembly includes an active material in operative communication with a seat surface configured to undergo a change in at least one property upon receipt of an activation signal, wherein the change in at least one property is effective to change at least one feature of the seat surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2007
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Alan Browne, Nancy Johnson, Pablo Zavattieri, Ukpai Ukpai, John Ulicny, John Cafeo, Rainer Glaser, Gary Jones, James Khoury, Carol Perelli, William Rodgers, Xiujie Gao
  • Publication number: 20070243810
    Abstract: A vent includes a vane configured for spatial movement, and at least one actuator in operative communication with the vane configured to spatially move the vane in at least one direction, wherein the actuator comprises an active material configured to undergo a change in at least one property upon receipt of an activation signal, wherein the change in at least one property is effective to selectively change an orientation of the vane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2007
    Publication date: October 18, 2007
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Alan L. Browne, Robin Stevenson, Nancy L. Johnson, Nilesh D. Mankame, Xiujie Gao, Paul W. Alexander, James Bloomsburgh, John Czoykowski, Neal Parsons, Jason R. Spenny