Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

David J Verbrugge

Kwang-Keun Shin

Scott P Charnesky

Brian A MacFarlane

John C Remy

Kenneth L Oblizajek

John F Larsen

Edward J Abeska

Sam M Jomaa

Ping Lee

Daniel G Gannon

David A Schoener

Robert W Leschuk

Dennis J Kinchen

Derek K Hogland

Mark De Backer

David W Turner

William J Raymor

A method of initializing operation of a shutter arranged relative to a grille opening in a vehicle having a power-plant includes detecting a start-up of the power-plant. The method also includes sensing a temperature of ambient air. The method also includes commanding the shutter to achieve a fully-opened position when the temperature of ambient air is above a predetermined value such that a flow of ambient air to the power-plant through the grille opening is substantially unrestricted. The method additionally includes commanding the shutter to achieve a fully-closed position when a temperature of the power-plant is maintained below a threshold value such that the flow of ambient air through the grille opening to the power-plant is substantially blocked. A vehicle using a controller configured to perform the above method is also provided.

Initialization sequence for a vehicle grille shutter

A system for controlling an aerodynamic shutter of a vehicle includes an ambient temperature estimation module that determines an ambient temperature. A shutter control module that determines whether to actuate the shutter based on the ambient temperature. The shutter control module also determines a predetermined period before selectively applying a predetermined torque value to the shutter. The predetermined period is selected based on the ambient temperature.

Method and apparatus for remote torque control of an aerodynamic air shutter mechanism

A vehicle engine mount system comprises a housing and an inertia track assembly that forms a first fluid chamber with an upper compliant member and a second fluid chamber with the second end of the housing. The inertia track assembly has first and second passageways therethrough for conducting fluid between the first and second fluid chambers. The first passageway has a substantially greater flow resistance than the second. First and second switches are coupled to the first and second passageways, respectively, for selectively enabling the first and second switches to control fluid displacement between the first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber.

Multistate switchable engine mount and system

A system for controlling a flow rate of an airstream through a compartment includes a panel configured to cover the compartment. The system also includes a first opening defined by the compartment and configured to permit the airstream to enter the covered compartment from the ambient when the compartment is covered by the panel. The system also includes a second opening defined by the panel and configured to permit at least a portion of the airstream to exit the covered compartment to the ambient. The system additionally includes a selectable position shutter assembly configured to control the size of the second opening and adjust a flow rate of the airstream through the covered compartment. A vehicle employing the shutter assembly to vary a flow rate of at least a portion of an airstream through the vehicle's under-hood area is also disclosed.

Control of an airstream flow rate through a covered compartment by an adjustable shutter

A system for generating power for a vehicle is provided. The system comprises a fan positioned to receive a flow of air, a turbine coupled to the fan, the turbine adapted to rotate the fan when operating in a first mode and to receive power from the fan when operating in a second mode, the turbine adapted to generate electrical power from the power received from the fan, and an electronic control unit adapted to selectively engage the first and second modes of the turbine.

System and method for generating power from a fan

A power generating engine mount is provided for coupling an engine and a body of a vehicle. The engine mount includes, but is not limited to a mounting stud configured for coupling to the engine and a permanent magnet coupled to the mounting stud. A coil is also provided that at least partially surrounds the permanent magnet and another mounting stud is configured to couple to the coil and the body.

Vibration power generation for a vehicle

A control circuit for an active engine mount is provided, including an electrical bridge circuit, and a pulse-width modulation ('PWM') circuit. The PWM circuit receives an input signal from a controller, and generates first and second PWM output signals. The first PWM signal, derived from the input signal, controls first and third switches of the electrical bridge circuit. The second PWM signal comprises a digitally inverted signal of the first PWM signal, and controls second and fourth switches of the electrical bridge circuit. First and second outputs of the bridge circuit are connectable to first and second terminals of the mount device. The controller receives an input signal from crank and cam sensors, as part of the control scheme.

Method and apparatus for controlling an active engine mount

An open-loop control system that provides control signals to active engine mounts to reduce or eliminate the transfer of engine vibration to a vehicle body structure, where the system uses only a crank signal from the engine as an input. The control system includes an instant crank speed variation sensing processor that receives the crank signal from the engine, where the crank signal is a pulsed signal including missing pulses as a result of teeth missing on the vehicle crank wheel. The crank speed variation sensing processor provides a measurement of the instant crank speed variation of the crank signal and minimizes an error in the measurement as a result of the missing pulses. The crank speed variation sensing processor outputs a crank speed sensing variation signal as a sine wave that identifies order content in the crank pulse signal.

Open-loop control method for cancelling engine induced noise and vibration

A method of generating a crankshaft synchronized sine wave signal for an internal combustion engine is provided. The method includes the steps of: A) sensing an observed crankshaft angle of the crankshaft; B) using a dynamic observer to generate an estimated crankshaft angle from said observed crankshaft angle; and C) generating the crankshaft synchronized sine wave signal as a function of the estimated crankshaft angle. The crankshaft synchronized sine wave signal is preferable output to at least one of an active vibration control system and an active noise control system. An apparatus for generating a crankshaft synchronized sine wave for an internal combustion engine according to the method of the present invention is also disclosed.

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Milford, MI, United States of America

David J Verbrugge