公开(公告)号：US10286764B2

公开(公告)日：2019-05-14

申请号：US15728059

申请日：2017-10-09

Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC

Inventor： Wonhee M. Kim ,  Paul W. Alexander ,  Julien P. Mourou ,  James H. Shoemaker ,  Besy J. Philip

IPC: B60J7/11 ,  B60J7/12

Abstract: A roof panel includes a first member and a second member. A panel is attached to and interconnects the first member and the second member. The panel is configurable between a deployed configuration for attachment to a vehicle, and a stowed configuration for storage. The panel has a planar form when in the deployed configuration, and a rolled up form when in the stowed configuration. The panel may include an adjustable stiffness panel, such as a layer jamming panel, controllable in response to a control signal to exhibit a first stiffness when in the deployed configuration or the stowed configuration, or a second stiffness for reforming the panel between the deployed configuration and the stowed configuration.

公开(公告)号：US20190106030A1

公开(公告)日：2019-04-11

申请号：US15727757

申请日：2017-10-09

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

Inventor： Wonhee M. Kim ,  Amberlee S. Haselhuhn ,  Richard J. Skurkis ,  Michael J . Walker ,  Ian J. Sutherland ,  Paul W. Alexander ,  Nilesh D. Mankame

IPC: B60N2/44

Abstract: An occupant support structure and a method of customizing an occupant support structure. The occupant support structure may comprise a base and a reconfigurable cushion carried by the base. The reconfigurable cushion may include an occupant support surface and a bladder. The bladder may include an outer wall that defines an inner cavity underlying the occupant support surface and two or more overlapping material layers disposed within the cavity. The overlapping material layers may be adapted to selectively transition from a compliant state to a rigid state and vice versa by selective control of a pressure condition across the outer wall of the bladder to reconfigure or conform the occupant support surface of the cushion to a contour of a portion of an occupant supported by the cushion.

公开(公告)号：US11745297B2

公开(公告)日：2023-09-05

申请号：US17103698

申请日：2020-11-24

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

Inventor： HyungMin Chae ,  Tyson W. Brown ,  Mark A. Smith ,  Richard J. Skurkis ,  Wonhee M. Kim

IPC: B23Q7/04 ,  B25J9/14 ,  B25J13/08 ,  B25J9/16 ,  B25J15/00

CPC classification number: B23Q7/043 ,  B23Q7/046 ,  B25J9/14 ,  B25J9/1612 ,  B25J9/1633 ,  B25J13/082 ,  B25J15/0028

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for shape controlled gripping of a workpiece. A layer jamming structure includes a membrane defining an internal cavity containing a number of overlapping material layers. A pressure system includes a pump coupled with the internal cavity. A shape conforming tool includes at least one part configured to move to apply a force to the layer jamming structure. The shape conforming tool, by operation of the part, conforms the layer jamming structure to the workpiece. The pressure system, with operation of the pump, changes a pressure in the internal cavity to impart rigidity to the layer jamming structure.

公开(公告)号：US11666998B2

公开(公告)日：2023-06-06

申请号：US17103721

申请日：2020-11-24

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

Inventor： HyungMin Chae ,  Tyson W. Brown ,  Richard J. Skurkis ,  Md Ashabul Anam ,  Wonhee M. Kim

IPC: B23Q3/08 ,  B23Q1/38 ,  B25B5/06 ,  B25B5/14

CPC classification number: B23Q3/088 ,  B23Q1/38 ,  B25B5/065 ,  B23Q2703/04 ,  B25B5/14

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for gripping of a workpiece with a layer jamming structure having rigid datum structures. A system includes a layer jamming structure configurable in an inactivated conformable state, with a membrane defining an internal cavity containing a number of overlapping material layers. The rigid structures engage the layer jamming structure. A pressure system includes a pump coupled with the internal cavity to change a pressure therein to transform the layer jamming structure from the inactivated conformable state to an activated rigid state disposed around the workpiece. The rigid structures help conform the layer jamming structure to the workpiece during transformation to the activated rigid state and to present datum fixturing surfaces in the activated rigid state.

公开(公告)号：US11458808B2

公开(公告)日：2022-10-04

申请号：US16855439

申请日：2020-04-22

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

Inventor： Wonhee M. Kim ,  Calin Tapuchievici ,  Nicholas J. Christoff ,  Kevin P. Nguyen

IPC: B60H1/00 ,  B60H1/34

Abstract: A shutter system for use in a vehicle. The shutter system comprises a panel mounted on a conduit through which air flows, the panel having a first plurality of apertures for permitting air to flow therethrough; and a grille movably mounted on a surface of the panel, the grille having a second plurality of apertures for permitting air to flow therethrough. In an open position, the grille is aligned with the panel such that the first and second plurality of apertures are aligned to permit air to flow through both the first and second plurality of apertures. In a closed position, the grille is aligned with the panel such that the first and second plurality of apertures are not aligned and air is blocked from flowing through the first and second plurality of apertures. The shutter system comprises a first actuator mechanism coupled to the panel and the grille and comprising a first bias spring and a first shape-memory alloy (SMA) spring. The first actuator mechanism moves the grill between the open position and the closed position.

公开(公告)号：US11351923B2

公开(公告)日：2022-06-07

申请号：US16704764

申请日：2019-12-05

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC ,  THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN

Inventor： Paul W. Alexander ,  Wonhee M. Kim ,  Jonathan E. Luntz ,  Diann Brei ,  Laura Alejandra Giner Munoz ,  Boyu Wan ,  Paul Q. Powers ,  Patrick K. Kenney ,  Koray Benli

IPC: B60R7/00 ,  B29C65/18 ,  A47C7/62 ,  B60N2/90 ,  B29C65/00 ,  B29L31/44

Abstract: A multi-layer bladder includes: a first bladder layer; a mask including a plurality of apertures; a second bladder layer bonded to the first bladder layer within the apertures in the mask and where the mask is not present between the first and second bladder layers, where the mask is configured to prevent bonding of the second bladder layer to the first bladder layer where the mask is present; and a fluid channel that is located between the first and second bladder layers and that extends to the mask from an outer edge of the multi-layer bladder.

公开(公告)号：US20210070382A1

公开(公告)日：2021-03-11

申请号：US16566374

申请日：2019-09-10

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

Inventor： Taeyoung Han ,  Wonhee M. Kim ,  Paul W. Alexander ,  Chih-hung Yen ,  Bahram Khalighi

IPC: B62D37/02 ,  B62D35/00

Abstract: An inflatable active flow control device includes a first surface, a second surface, and a spring including one end connected to the first surface and an opposite end connected to the second surface. A flexible material is connected to both the first surface and the second surface around the spring, defines an inflatable internal volume, and includes a plurality of threads extending between opposing inner surfaces of the flexible material at spaced locations through the inflatable internal volume.

公开(公告)号：US10597917B2

公开(公告)日：2020-03-24

申请号：US15728034

申请日：2017-10-09

Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC

Inventor： Ian J. Sutherland ,  Michael J. Walker ,  Wonhee M. Kim ,  Paul W. Alexander ,  Richard J. Skurkis ,  Amberlee S. Haselhuhn ,  Xiujie Gao

IPC: E05C17/00 ,  B60R5/04 ,  B60J1/20 ,  B60P7/06

Abstract: A stretchable adjustable-stiffness assembly includes a casing and first and second friction layers. The casing can be fluidly sealed and includes an interior compartment containing a fluid. The fluid can shift between a first interior pressure and a second interior pressure less than the first interior pressure and an exterior pressure. The first and second friction layers are disposed within the interior compartment. The assembly can shift between relaxed and fixed configurations. In the relaxed configuration, the fluid has the first interior pressure, the casing is stretchable between a first dimension and a second dimension greater than the first dimension, and the assembly has a first stiffness. In the fixed configuration, the first fluid has the second interior pressure, the casing length is fixed, the first and second friction layers are engaged, and the assembly has a second stiffness greater than the first stiffness.

公开(公告)号：US20200040609A1

公开(公告)日：2020-02-06

申请号：US16055503

申请日：2018-08-06

Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC

Inventor： Paul W. Alexander ,  Dayananda Narasimhaiah ,  Matthew M. Stack ,  Wonhee M. Kim ,  Alejandro Garcia ,  James H. Brown ,  Yonghoon Shim ,  Jaehun Kim

IPC: E05B51/00 ,  E05C19/02 ,  E05B47/00 ,  E05B81/04

Abstract: A lockable latching device includes a body defining a cavity and a plunger disposed within a cavity defined in the body. The plunger is translatable with respect to the body between an open position and a closed position. The lockable latching device also includes an annular rotator configured for rotating the plunger about a central longitudinal axis, and an annular latch transitionable between an unlocked state and a locked state. The lockable latching device further includes first and second elements. The lockable latching device also includes a force transmission mechanism operably connected to the first element, the second element, and the annular latch, with the force transmission mechanism configured to transition the annular latch from the unlocked state to the locked state in response to a first activation signal, and to transition the annular latch from the locked state to the unlocked state in response to a second activation signal.

公开(公告)号：US20190193373A1

公开(公告)日：2019-06-27

申请号：US15854190

申请日：2017-12-26

Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC

Inventor： Paul W. Alexander ,  Nilesh D. Mankame ,  Wonhee M. Kim ,  Nancy L. Johnson

IPC: B32B5/02 ,  D04B1/22 ,  B60N2/70

CPC classification number: B32B5/026 ,  B32B2601/00 ,  B32B2605/003 ,  B60N2/7017 ,  D04B1/22 ,  D10B2403/0211

Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a first knitted fabric layer defining an outer surface and a second knitted fabric layer defining an inner surface. The inner surface is opposite the outer surface. The vehicle seat further includes a knitted spacer fabric interconnecting the first knitted fabric layer and the second knitted fabric layer. The knitted spacer fabric resiliently biases the first knitted fabric layer and the second knitted fabric layer away from one another. The knitted spacer fabric is configured to buckle when a seated occupant exerts an occupant load on the vehicle seat. The first knitted fabric layer is more elastic than the second knitted fabric layer to conform to the seated occupant when the seated occupant exerts the occupant load on the vehicle seat.