The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 23, 2016
Filed:
Oct. 10, 2012
GM Global Technology Operations Llc, Detroit, MI (US);
Alan L. Browne, Grosse Pointe, MI (US);
Paul W. Alexander, Ypsilanti, MI (US);
Nancy L. Johnson, Northville, MI (US);
Xiujie Gao, Troy, MI (US);
Nilesh D. Mankame, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Guillermo A. Herrera, Winnetka, CA (US);
Geoffrey P. McKnight, Los Angeles, CA (US);
GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
Some on-vehicle devices, such as air dams, air spoilers, and HVAC system baffles, may have movable components that are pulled from one position to another by shrinkage of a linear shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator. Upon an activation signal, the shrinkage of the SMA actuator occurs when it is resistance heated by an electrical current. It is found that useful information concerning the overall intended operation of the on-vehicle device may be obtained by computer analysis of the temporal variation of both current flow through the actuator and its electrical resistance as it is heated to perform its function in the device. A comparison of present current flow and variation of resistance, during activation of the device, with prescribed stored values can reveal malfunction of components of the device as it is being used, in place, on the vehicle.