GM has filed a pair of patent applications for a system of antimicrobial vehicle cabin surfaces, including one patent that pertains to antimicrobial metallic touch surfaces, and another that pertains to antibacterial surfaces or self-cleaning / self-sanitizing surfaces.
The GM patent filing for antimicrobial metallic touch surfaces has been assigned application number US 2022/0295798 A1 with the United State Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and was published on September 22nd, 2022. The patent was originally filed on March 22nd, 2021, and lists Adam G. Gross, Janet C. Robincheck, William Schumacher, and Nancy L. Johnson as the inventors.
Meanwhile, the GM patent filing for antibacterial interior components has been assigned application number US 2022/0296742 A1 with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and was also published on September 22nd, 2022. The patent was originally filed on March 18th, 2021, and lists Nancy L. Johnson, Janet C. Robincheck, Judith H. Clark, Adam F. Gross, Shanying Cui, and Russell Mott as the inventors.
The antimicrobial metallic touch surfaces patent describes an interior component with a contoured surface and antimicrobial jacket assembly, the latter of which incorporates an antimicrobial metal material (such as copper) designed to prevent or minimize microbes from accumulating.
The antibacterial interior components patent describes interior components (such as a door handle) that also incorporate an LED generating light with a wavelength that is greater than or equal to roughly 375 nm, and less than or equal to 425 nm. This light is directed onto the interior component, thus killing bacteria, while a thermally conductive component helps with heat transfer into a heat sink that is either in or adjacent to the antibacterial interior component.
In both patents, a case is made for reducing diseases and odors in vehicles, in particular for ride-sharing or multi-occupant vehicles. These patents would therefore find a use in upcoming autonomous vehicles like the Cruise Origin, which would not include a human pilot to physically clean high-traffic surfaces in the interior. However, the technology could be useful in human-driven applications as well.
These patent filings are some of the latest from GM geared towards autonomous vehicles. Other examples include a patent for an airborne coronavirus detection system, a suspension failure detection system, and an automatic interior sanitization system, among others.
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Comments
This article needs a little pick-me-up. So first the funny stories that this made me think of. Having been in the auto business for about 21 years now, I could give many stories about filthy cars. Here’s two. First, back in 2010 I had a customer who traded in a 1999 Buick Regal (salvage title as well) that was beyond filthy. In fact, I’d never seen a car so bad. But the car had been well maintained and ran perfect, so I offered the used car manager $100 and it was mine. Inside had smells and rotten food and was just plain dirty. I actually cleaned it some before taking it to the detail shop for a full on cleaning. That car turned out quite nice and I ended up selling it to a buddy with 231,000 miles.
Second one: Working at a Cadillac store in Nashville, TN. This attorney came in with a 2006 Cadillac DTS. The car was super loaded and “clean” in terms of the body/seats, etc. But this thing was a pig pen inside. After trading the car, the GM and used car manager were joking about who they could get to drive the car to the back. I asked why and they told me the guy had soiled underpants that he cut off and threw on the passenger side front floor. They knew I liked those cars, so the GM said if I drove the car to the back, he’d sell it to me for $2,000. That was 1/3rd the wholesale book value! Hey, I grew up on a farm and dealt with lots of smelly bad things, so I took the offer. This one was even worse than the ’99 Regal I picked up in 2010. But I put on the gloves, grabbed the cleaning supplies and went to work. Then I took it to the detail shop where it spent the next 3 days. When I got it back, the GM and used car manager couldn’t believe it was the same car. Needless to say, I drove the car for a few months and sold it for a nice little profit!
I wonder if these antimicrobial cabin surfaces would have helped? haha.
Another answer to a question few, if any, are asking, but all will be compelled to pay for.
Presumably GM is looking at increased awareness of spreading illnesses. I’ll guess GM is looking at cabin air filtration systems, UV light, antiseptic spray mists, and this patent. Good for GM for being proactive on this –
GM sent me a survey on this during the height of. Covid.
Told them no interest.