David P Mifsud

US Patent:

20220321655, Oct 6, 2022

Filed:

Mar 31, 2021

Appl. No.:

17/219711

Inventors:

- Seattle WA, US
Brett Francis - Redwood City CA, US
David Joseph Mifsud - Lake Stevens WA, US
Michael Garcia - Springfield MO, US

Assignee:

Amazon Technologies, Inc. - Seattle WA

International Classification:

H04L 29/08
B60R 16/023

Abstract:

A system comprising one or more computers implements a synthetic sensor service configured to deploy synthetic sensors to in-vehicle computing devices implementing an in-vehicle distributed computing environment. A synthetic sensor may be placed monolithically at a single computing device (e.g. ECU) in the vehicle, or may be modularly placed on multiple computing devices (e.g. multiple ECUs) of the vehicle that each have resources or inputs that the synthetic sensor requires. The modular components of the synthetic sensor may execute in a runtime environment of the in-vehicle distributed computing environment, such that the modular components function as a unified synthetic sensor even though they are placed on different computing devices of the vehicle (e.g. different ECUs).

US Patent:

20180105059, Apr 19, 2018

Filed:

Oct 13, 2016

Appl. No.:

15/292456

Inventors:

- Detroit MI, US
Syed M. Kadry - Grand Blanc MI, US
Ahmad Albanna - Dearborn Heights MI, US
Mohammad N. Anwar - Van Buren Township MI, US
David J. Mifsud - Novi MI, US

Assignee:

GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC - Detroit MI

International Classification:

B60L 11/18
H02J 7/00
H02P 27/08
G01R 31/36

Abstract:

An electrical system includes a voltage bus, battery pack, power inverter module (PIM), electric machine, first contactor, and controller. The PIM is connected to the battery pack and has a capacitor, voltage sensor, and semiconductor switches. The electric machine having phase legs with a corresponding phase winding and resistive path. The first contactor connects the PIM to a positive rail of the bus. The controller opens the first contactor in response to a power-off event, commands a discharge of the capacitor through the resistive paths, diagnoses a state of health (SOH) of the first contactor using a first threshold decay rate of the capacitor output voltage upon opening the first contactor, and executes a control action with respect to the electrical system using the diagnosed SOH. The three possible SOH are unhealthy/hard-welded contactor, unhealthy/soft-welded contactor, and healthy/normally-functioning contactor condition. A vehicle and method are also disclosed.

US Patent:

20170355350, Dec 14, 2017

Filed:

Jun 14, 2016

Appl. No.:

15/181972

Inventors:

- Detroit MI, US
David J. Mifsud - Novi MI, US

Assignee:

GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC - Detroit MI

International Classification:

B60R 25/04
B60R 16/04

Abstract:

An electrical system includes a contactor having a pair of contacts and a coil configured to electrically close and open the contacts. The electrical system also includes a high voltage (“HV”) circuit including a power supply electrically connected to at least one of the contacts of the contactor. The electrical system further includes a low voltage (“LV”) circuit electrically connected to the coil and configured to selectively energize the coil of the contactor. A disconnect mechanism is coupled with the LV electrical circuit and operable to electrically open the LV electrical circuit to actuate electrical opening of the contacts of the contactor.

US Patent:

20150091377, Apr 2, 2015

Filed:

Sep 27, 2013

Appl. No.:

14/040355

Inventors:

- DETROIT MI, US
MARC REISCHMANN - Wollstein, DE
MARJORIE A. BASSHAM - BURTON MI, US
DAVID J. MIFSUD - NOVI MI, US
JAMES E. TARCHINSKI - ROCHESTER HILLS MI, US
RUSSELL K. STEELE - CLINTON TOWNSHIP MI, US

Assignee:

GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC - DETROIT MI

International Classification:

B60R 16/03
B60L 11/18

US Classification:

307 101

Abstract:

Systems and methods disclosed herein provide for a distributed high-voltage bus for a battery system included in a vehicle. In certain embodiments, the systems and methods disclosed herein provide for a scalable high-voltage bus architecture utilizing a common high-voltage rail for powering vehicle systems and/or modules. Independent contactors may be utilized on the opposite rail to selective power high-voltage branches. In further embodiments, a common rail pre-charge circuit may be utilized allowing for independent pre-charging of HV branches and systems and/or modules coupled to the HV bus.