Abstract: Systems and methods of making a cast steel alloy crankshaft for an internal combustion engine are provided. The method comprises providing a mold of the crankshaft. The mold has cavities to form the crankshaft. The method further comprises melting a first metallic material at between 1400 degrees Celsius (° C.) and 1600° C. to define a molten metallic material. In addition, the method further comprises feeding the molten metallic material at a riser connection angle of between 30° and 75° in the cavities of the negative sand cast mold. The method further comprises cooling the molten metallic material at a solidification time of between 5 seconds (sec) and 20 sec in the negative sand cast mold with at least one chill member to define a solidified metallic material having dimensions of the cast steel alloy crankshaft. Furthermore, the method comprises separating the solidified metallic material from the negative sand cast mold to define the cast steel alloy crankshaft.

Abstract: Systems and methods of making a cast steel alloy crankshaft for an internal combustion engine are provided. The method comprises providing a mold of the crankshaft. The mold has cavities to form the crankshaft. The method further comprises melting a first metallic material at between 1400 degrees Celsius (° C.) and 1600° C. to define a molten metallic material. In addition, the method further comprises feeding the molten metallic material at a riser connection angle of between 30° and 75° in the cavities of the negative sand cast mold. The method further comprises cooling the molten metallic material at a solidification time of between 5 seconds (sec) and 20 sec in the negative sand cast mold with at least one chill member to define a solidified metallic material having dimensions of the cast steel alloy crankshaft. Furthermore, the method comprises separating the solidified metallic material from the negative sand cast mold to define the cast steel alloy crankshaft.

Abstract: A method and system for manufacturing a cast iron crankshaft for a vehicle are provided. The system comprises a molding unit arranged to form a negative sand cast mold of the cast iron crankshaft. The mold comprising at least one molded cavity having a pattern with dimensions of the cast iron crankshaft. The system further comprises a feeding mechanism comprising a riser having a connector through which molten metallic material flows to the cast mold. The feeding mechanism feeds the molten metallic material at a riser connection angle in the at least one mold cavity. The riser connection angle corresponds to a connector modulus. The connector modulus is 20% greater than a cast modulus. The riser geometry corresponds to a riser modulus. The riser modulus is 20% greater than the connector modulus. The system further comprises a furnace, a cooling area, a separation unit, a controller and a power source.

Abstract: A motor control system configured to detect a pinch condition of a structure actuated by a motor includes a pinch detection module configured to receive a current signal indicative of a motor current, determine a rate of change of current based on the current signal, and generate a pinch signal indicative of the pinch condition in response to either one of the motor current being greater than a current threshold and the rate of change of current being greater than a rate of change threshold. The motor control system further includes a position control module configured to control the motor to actuate the structure in response to an input and at least one of stop and reverse the motor in response to the pinch signal.

Abstract: A system includes a motor control module and an occupant weight classification module. The motor control module is configured to supply power to a motor to move a seat in a first direction from a first position to a second position when the seat is unoccupied and supply power to the motor to move the seat in a second direction from a third position to a fourth position when an occupant is in the seat. The occupant weight classification module is configured to measure a first frequency of ripples in current supplied to the motor as the seat is moved from the first position to the second position, measure a second frequency of ripples in the current supplied to the motor as the seat is moved from the third position to the fourth position, and determine a weight of the occupant based on the first and second frequencies.

Abstract: A motor control system configured to detect a pinch condition of a structure actuated by a motor includes a pinch detection module configured to receive a current signal indicative of a motor current, determine a rate of change of current based on the current signal, and generate a pinch signal indicative of the pinch condition in response to either one of the motor current being greater than a current threshold and the rate of change of current being greater than a rate of change threshold. The motor control system further includes a position control module configured to control the motor to actuate the structure in response to an input and at least one of stop and reverse the motor in response to the pinch signal.

Abstract: A system according to the present disclosure includes a motor driver module and a motor position determination module. The motor driver module is configured to measure current supplied to a motor. The motor position determination module is configured to determine a first position of the motor at a first time when power supply to the motor is initially discontinued based on ripples in the current supplied to the motor during a first period before the first time. The motor position determination module is configured to determine a second position of the motor at a second time when the motor stops rotating after power supply to the motor is discontinued based on the first position of the motor and a rotational speed of the motor at the first time.

Abstract: A system includes a motor control module and an occupant weight classification module. The motor control module is configured to supply power to a motor to move a seat in a first direction from a first position to a second position when the seat is unoccupied and supply power to the motor to move the seat in a second direction from a third position to a fourth position when an occupant is in the seat. The occupant weight classification module is configured to measure a first frequency of ripples in current supplied to the motor as the seat is moved from the first position to the second position, measure a second frequency of ripples in the current supplied to the motor as the seat is moved from the third position to the fourth position, and determine a weight of the occupant based on the first and second frequencies.

Abstract: A system according to the present disclosure includes a motor driver module and a motor position determination module. The motor driver module is configured to measure current supplied to a motor. The motor position determination module is configured to determine a first position of the motor at a first time when power supply to the motor is initially discontinued based on ripples in the current supplied to the motor during a first period before the first time. The motor position determination module is configured to determine a second position of the motor at a second time when the motor stops rotating after power supply to the motor is discontinued based on the first position of the motor and a rotational speed of the motor at the first time.

Abstract: A system according to the present disclosure includes a motor driver module and a motor position determination module. The motor driver module is configured to measure current supplied to a motor. The motor position determination module is configured to determine a first position of the motor at a first time when power supply to the motor is initially discontinued based on ripples in the current supplied to the motor during a first period before the first time. The motor position determination module is configured to determine a second position of the motor at a second time when the motor stops rotating after power supply to the motor is discontinued based on the first position of the motor and a rotational speed of the motor at the first time.

Abstract: A distributed control system for a vehicle seat includes a control module for communicating on a single communication bus and a plurality of nodes connected to the control module via the communication bus, wherein each of the plurality of nodes are associated with a load device and each of the plurality of nodes comprises a logic component specific to the load device.

Abstract: The conformable pressure vessel having: a plurality of individual pressure vessels, the individual pressure vessels each having an outer wall enclosing an inner volume. The inner volumes are fluidly connected to each other. The individual pressures vessels are oriented parallel to each other.

Abstract: A system according to the present disclosure includes a motor driver module and a motor position determination module. The motor driver module is configured to measure current supplied to a motor. The motor position determination module is configured to determine a first position of the motor at a first time when power supply to the motor is initially discontinued based on ripples in the current supplied to the motor during a first period before the first time. The motor position determination module is configured to determine a second position of the motor at a second time when the motor stops rotating after power supply to the motor is discontinued based on the first position of the motor and a rotational speed of the motor at the first time.

Abstract: A distributed control system for a vehicle seat includes a control module for communicating on a single communication bus and a plurality of nodes connected to the control module via the communication bus, wherein each of the plurality of nodes are associated with a load device and each of the plurality of nodes comprises a logic component specific to the load device.

Abstract: Various techniques for offline record selection to avoid negatively impacting latency are described herein. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a search query from a client device via a network and in response to the received search query, determining if the received search query corresponds to one or more records of offline content. The records of offline content are previously determined and prior to receiving the search query. In response to determining that the received search query corresponds to at least one record of offline content, the method includes retrieving and providing the at least one record of offline content to the client device via the network.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for optimizing bidding over multiple advertising campaigns having a least two campaign types. The optimization is subjected to at least one constraint quantifying a multiple campaign spending limit amount. The method commences by identifying a collection of the multiple advertising campaigns, then evaluating each of the constituent member advertising campaigns to determine its respective optimized spending amount. Then the method calculates (e.g., sums) an aggregate spending amount by aggregating the individual campaign spending amounts. When the aggregate spending amount is greater than the multiple campaign constraint, then the method apportions the multiple campaign spending limit amount to the constituent member advertising campaigns which is in turn used to determine a reduced spending limit.

Abstract: A system and method for formulating a bid on an impression for an Internet advertising campaign using market forecast data are provided. The system and method comprise determining a bid policy using an advertiser goal type, an advertiser payment type, and a budget parameter. Historical impression data pertaining to the advertising campaign is sampled using any applicable sampling technique. The sampled data is used to derive forecast data that predicts the future state of the market. The bid policy and the forecast data are used to derive a spend curve, from which an optimal bid is formulated that results in a proper and efficient allocation of the advertiser's budget.

Abstract: A system and method for calculating an effective bid per impression are disclosed. The system and method may receive a price per conversion bid of an advertiser and information from at least one user. The information may comprise a user state of the user. In some embodiments, the user state may comprise a number of times that the user has previously viewed the advertisement. The user state may be input into a user behavioral model to determine predictive values of the user behavior. An effective bid per impression may then be calculated based on the predictive values of the user and the advertiser's bid per conversion.

Abstract: An electronic greeting card for recording and playing back a personalized message includes a bifurcated card with first and second coextensively shaped sections pivotally coupled to each other. The device further includes a mechanism for recording and playing back a one-time personalized message associated with the greeting card, and a mechanism for adapting the recording and playback mechanism between inoperable and operable modes for allowing a sender to record the one-time personalized message on the recording and playback device and thereafter allowing a recipient to repeatedly play back the one-time personalized message.

Abstract: A power, ground and communication architecture (100) utilizes hubs (105, 110, 115). Each hub (105, 110, 115) contains computing, communication and power management elements (135, 140). Hubs (105, 110, 115) may be connected to multiple other hubs (105, 110, 115) to distribute communication and power in a freeform web-type arrangement, specific tree, bus or star arrangements are not required. Standardized wiring harness segments (120) are used to join the hubs (105, 110, 115) and control elements. Each of the strands in the web may be an independent point-to-point bus and isolated power line.