Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Amanda Kalhous

Norman Joseph Weigert

Jarvis Chau

Neeraj Roy Gautama

Robert A Hrabak

Nikola J Pudar

Michael J Chappell

Dwayne A Crocker

Nathaniel H Williams

Wen Gu

Radu D Sotir

Gilles Delorme

Timothy J Talty

Fred W Huntzicker

Ansaf Ibrahem Alrabady

Kenneth L Peirce

David P Pop

Marco T Carnevale

Shiv G Patel

Vyacheslav Berezin

Cem U Saraydar

Mark A Manickaraj

Doru N Serban

Mukesh Gupta

Shaun S Marshall

Roddi L MacInnes

David Cochrane

Karen Juzswik

Samer Zakhem

Vijay Vardhan

Alec M Wuorinen

Anuj Tyagi

James F Felkins

Glenn B Bryksaw

Steven Langille

Kathiravetpillai Kandiah

Fuad Al-Amin

A hitch system for automatically coupling a hitch accessory that has an attachment bar assembly with a hitch receiver. The attachment bar assembly includes a housing bar that is tubular, with a pin-hole through the housing bar. A pin-lever is pivotably mounted in the housing bar and includes a pin configured to retract into the housing bar and to extend out of the pin-hole. A ramp-component is disposed in the housing bar and is engageable with the pin-lever. An actuator selectively moves the ramp-component to retract the pin into the housing bar and to extend the pin out of the housing bar, by selectively enabling pivoting of the pin-lever.

Automatic hitch system

Methods and systems are provided for loading and unloading an item onto a vehicle. In one embodiment, a system includes: a loading system configured to receive a locker configured to store the item; a shuttle transfer system configured to transfer the locker to a storage position within the vehicle; and a swing arm system that couples to the loading system and the shuttle transfer system, the swing arm system configured to adjust a position of the loading system relative to the vehicle.

Loading and unloading systems and methods

A system and method of managing virtual vehicle keys includes: receiving at a central facility a request to use a vehicle; receiving an identifier of a handheld wireless device at the central facility; generating at the central facility a virtual vehicle key that permits vehicle access using the handheld wireless device; and wirelessly transmitting the virtual vehicle key to the handheld wireless device and a vehicle the handheld wireless device has authorization to access.

Virtual keyfob for vehicle sharing

A system and method of activating and using an auxiliary key fob with a vehicle, including the steps of: pairing the auxiliary key fob and the vehicle; receiving an activation request at the vehicle, the activation request indicating to the vehicle to activate the auxiliary key fob for use with the vehicle; activating the auxiliary key fob in a particular access mode for use with the vehicle; receiving a SRWC credentials signal from the auxiliary key fob at a SRWC passive entry passive start (PEPS) module installed in the vehicle; after receiving the SRWC credentials signal, sending information included in or derived from the SRWC credentials signal to the VSM of the vehicle; determining that the auxiliary key fob is authorized at the VSM based at least in part on the information sent to the VSM; and carrying out a vehicle access function in response to the determination.

User activated/deactivated short-range wireless communications (SRWC) auxiliary key fob

A keyless entry and start system for a vehicle includes a vehicle subsystem configured to control at least one of access to an interior compartment of the vehicle and starting of the vehicle. The system further includes an actuator movable between first and second positions and a switch coupled to the actuator. The switch assumes a first state when the actuator is in the first position and a second state when the actuator is in the second position. The system further includes a controller coupled to the switch and configured to detect an actuation sequence of the actuator, the actuation sequence corresponding to an access code. The controller is further configured to compare the access code to an authorization code and generate a control signal configured to cause the vehicle subsystem to switch states when the entry code corresponds to the authorization code.

Keyless control system

An access control system for a vehicle includes a rear closure and a system that controls movement of the rear closure between closed and open positions. The control system including a controller and a wireless communication module having a wireless interface configured for short range wireless communication. The controller receives an actuation signal requesting transition of the rear closure to an open position from a mobile communication device carried by a vehicle user. The controller then determines when the user enters authentication and actuation zones proximate the vehicle via communication between the wireless communication module and a short range wireless communication device carried by the user. One the user is within the actuation zone, the controller generates a rear closure control signal configured to cause the rear closure to move from the closed position to the open position.

Hands-free access control system for a closure of a vehicle

A short range wireless communication (SRWC) system for a vehicle and a method of using the SRWC system. The system includes a first SRWC node in the vehicle having a SRWC receiver and a SRWC transmitter, and a second SRWC node in the vehicle adapted to send and receive SRWC data. The first and second SRWC nodes are configured so that when the first and second SRWC nodes are operable, an SRWC object device perceives the first and second SRWC nodes as a single SRWC device.

Short range wireless communication system for a vehicle

Implementations of the present invention contemplate utilizing the communicative connections between a telematics service provider (TSP), a communication device, and a telematics unit in a vehicle to manage personalized information of a subscriber. Implementations contemplate the removal of personalized information of a subscriber from data stores located at a vehicle, the uploading of personalized information of a subscriber to a database of an operations control center of the TSP, and the downloading of personalized information of a subscriber by a telematics unit of a vehicle from an operations control center of the TSP. Implementations enable personalized information of a subscriber to be removed from a vehicle remotely in order to prevent a user of the vehicle from accessing personalized information of the subscriber. Furthermore, implementations enable personalized information of a subscriber to be accessed by a vehicle in order to provide a subscriber with a customized experience in the vehicle.

Method and system to manage personalized vehicle user information

A communication system and method utilizing the communication system. The method includes performing a vehicle function based on a proximity of two wireless devices to a vehicle. The steps of method include: establishing a short-range wireless communication (SRWC) link between a SRWC system on the vehicle and a first wireless device; establishing another SRWC link between the SRWC system and a second wireless device, wherein the first and second wireless devices are associated with a common user; receiving a wireless signal at the SRWC system from each of the first and second wireless devices; determining a proximity of the two wireless devices based on receiving the wireless signals; and performing a vehicle function based on the determined location.

Determining proximity of a user to a vehicle using a plurality of wireless devices

A method and system for selective activation of a vehicle near field communication (NFC) module. The vehicle NFC module may be part of a vehicle communication and access system capable of initiating various vehicle functions, such as unlocking one or more doors of the vehicle or starting a motor or engine of the vehicle. With the method and system, a user's mobile device can be used in lieu of a key or a key fob. In situations where the battery power level of the user's mobile device is low, such that Bluetooth or the generation of an active NFC signal is unavailable, the vehicle NFC module is maintained in an active mode. In the active mode, the vehicle NFC module can initiate a connection with a passive mobile NFC target. Otherwise, depending on the battery level of the user's mobile device, the vehicle NFC module is maintained in a standard sleep mode to save power.

Method and system for selectively activating a vehicle near field communication module

A system and method for employing BLE nodes in a PEPS system to determine whether a FOB is within or outside of a vehicle. The method includes interrogating the FOB using a signal transmitted by a BLE device on the vehicle to determine whether the FOB is in a predetermined vicinity of the vehicle and receiving a Bluetooth signal at the BLE device that is transmitted by the FOB if the FOB is in the vicinity of the vehicle. The method also included determining a transmit power of the Bluetooth signal transmitted by the FOB and determining a receive power of the Bluetooth signal transmitted by the FOB and received by the BLE device. The method uses the transmit power and the receive power in a comparison process to determine whether the FOB is inside or outside of the vehicle.

Vehicle integration of BLE nodes to enable passive entry and passive start features

A vehicle communication system and a method of using the system that includes coupling a second device in a vehicle using short range wireless communication (SRWC) based on a pairing of a first device in the vehicle. The method includes the steps of: pairing at the vehicle the first device with a SRWC module, by performing a pairing procedure; after the pairing step, determining an identifying association of the first and second devices; and partially performing the pairing procedure between the SRWC module and the second device based on the pairing of the first device and the identified association.

Simplified pairing of a second device in a vehicle via short range wireless communication

A system or method capable of using automobile camera system data to generate biometric information for the use in identifying authorized drivers and customizing and controlling automobile components. The system is versatile enough to distinguish between a new or unauthorized person in the automobile and respond accordingly.

Growing community of inventors

Ajax, Canada

Amanda Kalhous