Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Kenneth J Shoemaker

Chandra S Namuduri

Suresh Gopalakrishnan

Michael G Reynolds

Balarama Vempaty Murty

Thomas W Nehl

Lei Hao

Qi Ma

David W Walters

Thomas R Brown

Shawn L Boozer

Hsu-Chiang Miao

James J Abramczyk

Bradley Bezzina

Ebrahim Handy

Chunhao J Lee

Paul W Alexander

Eugene Victor Gonze

Xiujie Gao

Sanjeev Manubhai Naik

Norman Joseph Weigert

Richard J Skurkis

Dorel M Sala

Michael J Karagoulis

Chang H Kim

Venkata Prasad Atluri

Andrew J Namou

Nick S Kapsokavathis

Anil Bika

Nathan F Thompson

Danny Y Mui

David S Rule

James F Crawford

Tony J Deschutter

Detlev Schäfer

Toufic M Huazi

James S Dorenbecker

Theo L Moreno

An electric starter system is used with an engine. The starter system may include a solenoid device coupled to a pinion gear, a brushless starter motor connectable to the engine via the pinion gear during a requested engine start event, and a controller. In response to the start event, when the engine speed is less than a threshold speed, the controller delivers a control current to the solenoid device at a peak current level sufficient for translating the pinion gear into contact with the flywheel. The control current is reduced to a holding current level less than the peak current level after the pinion gear is engaged with the flywheel. Motor torque is commanded from the starter motor, through the pinion gear, and to the flywheel while maintaining the holding current level, and held for a duration sufficient for starting the engine.

Brushless starter system with pinion pre-engagement control

Methods and systems for receiving, by a destination device at which a securement-monitoring application is operating, from a securement sensor device, a securement-condition communication indicating a condition of a securement remote to the destination device. Operations also include determining, by the destination device using the securement-monitoring application, an action to take responsive to the securement-condition communication, such as notifying a user of an undesired condition at the securement. The operations further include initiating the action determined.

Automated wireless securement-monitoring and feedback system

A method of controlling a powertrain of a vehicle includes opening and/or closing one or more of a first switching device, a second switching device, a third switching device, and engaging and/or disengaging at least one of a pair of actuators for a starter mechanism or a motor/generator clutch. Many different control modes are provided for the powertrain by changing the operation of a motor-generator between a motor or a generator, and changing the electrical connections between a first energy storage device, a second energy storage device, an auxiliary electric system, the starter mechanism, and the motor-generator.

Method of controlling a powertrain of a vehicle

A magnetodynamic apparatus for separating conductive non-ferrous blanks includes at least one magnet positioned adjacent to a stack of the blanks and configured to generate a magnetic field in a first direction with respect to a major surface of an uppermost blank within the stack. The apparatus includes an actuator device for positioning the magnet with respect to the stack during production of an electric current in a second direction along the major surface. The second direction is normal to the first direction such that a magnetic separation force is generated in a third direction normal to the first and second directions. The separation force is sufficient for magnetically separating the uppermost blank from remaining blanks in the stack. The magnets may be rotated on a rotor or held stationary. The electric current may be induced or directly injected into the uppermost blank.

Magnetodynamic apparatus and method for separating non-ferrous conductive blanks

Disclosed are electromagnetic apparatuses for separating non-ferrous blanks, methods for making and for using such apparatuses, and automated systems with electromagnetic destacking unit for handling stacks of non-ferrous blanks. Presented is a destacking unit with a magnet placed adjacent a stack of non-ferrous blanks, and two electrical terminals placed in contact with the top blank of the stack. The magnet generates a magnetic field across the surface of the top blank. The terminals pass electrical current through the blank transversely across the top surface. The direction of the electrical current is generally normal to the direction of the magnetic field such that a magnetic separation force sufficient to displace the blank from the stack is generated in a generally vertical direction.

Systems, processes and apparatuses for automated handling of non-ferrous metal objects

Method for voltage stabilization during an engine starting event of a vehicle includes receiving, at a switch device module, an active Start_ON signal from a starter solenoid module indicating initiation of the engine starting event. At the switch device module, an auxiliary electrical energy storage device (ESD) is electrically coupled to one or more auxiliary loads within a predetermined delay since the active Start_ON signal was received. A primary ESD and a starter motor are electrically decoupled from the one or more auxiliary loads only after the auxiliary ESD has been electrically coupled to the one or more auxiliary loads. In response to a predetermined condition occurring while the primary ESD and the starter motor are electrically decoupled from the one or more auxiliary loads, the primary ESD and the starter motor are electrically coupled to the one or more auxiliary loads.

Apparatus and method for vehicle voltage stabilization

Apparatus for voltage stabilization in a vehicle includes a battery distribution module having a load module managing electrical power to one or more auxiliary loads, a first switch coupling a starter motor and an ESD to the load module only when closed, a second switch coupling an auxiliary ESD to the load module only when closed, and a controller integrated with a PC board attached to the first and second switch devices. The controller is configured to control opening and closing of the first and second switches based on at least one of a plurality of signals received by the controller. The primary ESD is electrically coupled a primary fuse terminal of the battery distribution module which electrically couples the primary ESD to a second terminal of the first switch and the starter motor. The auxiliary ESD is electrically coupled to an auxiliary fuse terminal of the battery distribution module which electrically couples a first terminal of the second switch to the auxiliary ESD.

Smart power distribution unit

An electrical system includes a battery for providing electrical power to a starter mechanism and an auxiliary load of a hybrid-electric vehicle. An electric double-layer capacitor ('EDLC') is electrically connectable to the battery and the auxiliary load. A separation switch is electrically connected between the battery and the EDLC for electrically separating the battery from the EDLC and the auxiliary load. The separation switch is opened in response to the voltage across the battery being less than the voltage across the EDLC.

Electrical system and method for a hybrid-electric vehicle

A vehicle includes an internal combustion engine operatively disposed therein. The engine generates exhaust gases. The vehicle further includes an alternator operatively connected to the engine. The alternator produces DC power. An ultracapacitor is operatively connected to the alternator to receive electrical energy therefrom. The vehicle still further includes an exhaust gas treatment system operatively connected to the engine to receive exhaust gases therefrom. The exhaust gas treatment system includes an electrically heated catalyst (EHC) device electrically connected to the ultracapacitor to selectively heat a catalytic exhaust system component. The ultracapacitor stores energy converted by the alternator from vehicle kinetic energy and releases the stored energy to heat the EHC.

Method for converting constituent gases in an internal combustion engine exhaust gas mixture and a vehicle incorporating the same

A circuit that detects if contacts in an HV contactor have been welded or stuck closed. The circuit includes a controller that generates a short duration pulse signal that closes a driver switch and allows current flow through a coil in the HV contactor. The current flow is converted to a voltage by a sensor, where the voltage is received by the controller. The controller uses the voltage, such as by comparing the voltage to a stored representative voltage of the coil current for when the HV contactor is open, to determine whether the HV contactor is closed, and possibly welded or stuck closed, or partially closed. The sensor can be the driver switch or another device, such as a resistor.

Diagnosis of HEV/EV battery disconnect system

A linear actuator associated with an actuator system for a device includes a wire cable fabricated from an active material. The linear actuator couples to the device and to the moveable element. The active material induces strain in the linear actuator in response to an activation signal. The linear actuator translates the moveable element relative to the device in response to the induced strain. An activation controller electrically connects to the linear actuator and generates the activation signal. A position feedback sensor monitors a position of the moveable element.

Actuator system including an active material

A system and method for managing faults occurring in a power steering system in a vehicle is disclosed that has particular application for an MRHPS system to provide reliable functioning of the power steering system. The method includes detecting a fault condition in the MRHPS system and selecting a safe mode from a plurality of predetermined safe modes based on the fault condition. The plurality of predetermined safe modes include a normal operation mode, an engine speed follow mode, a manual mode, a fixed duty cycle mode and a voltage control mode. If a fault condition is detected, the method applies the safe mode to manage the fault condition.

Method for managing faults in a magneto-rheological hydraulic power steering system

A method for determining a speed of a power steering pump used in a power steering assembly of a vehicle that has particular application in a vehicle using a magneto-rheological hydraulic power steering (MRHPS) system for improving the fuel efficiency and ride comfort of the vehicle, and for reliable functioning of the power steering system. The method includes determining an angle of rotation of the steering wheel and a rate of change of the angle of rotation of the steering wheel based on the angle of rotation of the steering wheel of the vehicle. The method further includes determining the speed of the vehicle and the speed of the power steering pump based on the angle of rotation of the steering wheel, the rate of change of the angle of rotation of the steering wheel and the speed of the vehicle.

Pump speed command generation algorithm for magnetorheological power steering coupling

Cathode-anode voltage across free-wheeling diodes in an active rectifier is used in the determination of switching points when the free-wheeling diode is forward biased. Hysteretic switching is accomplished through the selection of conductive and non-conductive switching threshold. The switching thresholds are further selected to prevent voltage oscillations at zero current crossings and reduce delays during deactivation to prevent cross-conduction.

Rectifying circuit for a multiphase electric machine

A vehicle includes a direct start engine, an automatic transmission having a threshold fluid pressure sufficient for enabling operation of the transmission when the engine is off, a controller, and a fuel delivery system. The controller determines the presence of predetermined engine states, and optimizes a stop-and-go functionality of the engine. The fuel delivery system includes a motor and an integrated pump assembly having a secondary high-pressure (HP) fuel pump which is selectively connectable to a rotatable shaft of the motor, and a secondary low-pressure (LP) fluid pump which is continuously connected to the shaft. The motor continuously energizes the secondary LP fluid pump via the rotatable shaft to thereby maintain the threshold fluid pressure during a first or second engine state, and selectively energizes the secondary HP fuel pump via the rotatable shaft to maintain the threshold fuel pressure during the second engine state.

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Highland, MI, United States of America

Kenneth J Shoemaker