Abstract: A device for implementing a method for predicting rotational positions of a rotating shaft is disclosed. A motor shaft is rotated over a range of rotation. The device detects each incremental rotation position of the motor shaft from a set of incremental rotational positions being spaced by a fixed increment. Prior to a change in the rotational speed of the motor shaft, the device generates a prediction of each rotational position. When a detected incremental rotation indicates a change in rotational speed of the motor shaft, the device modifies the prediction of each motor shaft position in a continuous manner.

Abstract: A method for determining state of charge (SOC) of a battery system based upon an equivalent circuit of the battery system. A potential and resistance of the equivalent circuit are computed. The method uses a least squares regression means, and includes: providing a plurality of data points as a starting point based upon determinations including measurement or prior computation, wherein the determinations include a determination of a voltage of the battery system; weighting the plurality of data points; and computing values of the resistance and potential based upon weighted data points using recursive formulas, wherein only a state at a previous time is reflected respectively.

Abstract: A window system for a vehicle including a glass assembly, an electrical device coupled to the glass assembly, a conducting post electrically coupled to the electrical device, sheet metal in the vehicle forming an aperture in the vehicle for accepting the glass assembly, a locating tab located on the border of the aperture, where the conducting post couples to the locating tab to position the glass assembly within the aperture to create an electrical connection to an electrical system in the vehicle.

Abstract: A method of initializing the catalyst converter for monitoring the conversion efficiencies of a catalytic converter by measuring the oxygen storage capacity (OSC) of the converter. The measurement of the OSC indicates the degree of health of the converter. Under the same engine running conditions, the greater the OSC measurement, the healthier the converter. The catalyst needs to be set to either a rich state or a lean state prior to the measurement of its OSC time. This process is called catalyst state initialization. The catalyst has to be fully saturated from test to test in order to make consistent OSC measurements. This is through open loop fuel control by commanding a lean air to fuel ratio and then monitoring thepost-O2 sensor voltage until it falls below a calibrated value (e.g. 80 mV) indicating a lean state. The system continues to command a lean air to fuel ratio (e.g. 6%) for a calibrated duration of time (e.g.

Abstract: A battery pack for an electric/hybrid vehicle that includes a plurality of batteries stacked in layers one atop the other and electrically coupled together to provide the necessary power to the vehicle. The plurality of batteries is supported on an underlying base. A plurality of spacers are disposed above and below each layer for separating the layers of batteries and providing air passages around the batteries to allow air flow around the batteries to provide heating or cooling of the batteries. A retention frame affixes the batteries to the base to restrict movement of the batteries. The frame includes a plurality of beams that are interconnected and extend along the ends of the batteries. The beams apply a vertical force against the batteries, thereby fixing them rigidly to the base.

Abstract: An improved surge suppression control for a motor vehicle drivetrain detects and suppresses drivetrain oscillation in a predetermined range of frequencies centered on an estimate of the natural frequency of the drivetrain. The drivetrain natural frequency is determined based on the current speed ratio of the vehicle transmission and empirically determined vehicle characteristics, and is used to define the center frequency of a band-pass filter responsive to engine speed. The filter output represents the AC component of the engine speed in a range of frequencies centered on the driveline natural frequency, and such component is differentiated to form an acceleration component in phase synchronism with the torque causing the detected resonance.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for estimating gas temperatures of a vehicle engine. The method comprises receiving a velocity of the vehicle and an air mass flow rate and estimating an exhaust gas temperature based at least upon the velocity of the vehicle and the air mass flow rate. The method also comprises receiving an EGR mass flow rate and estimating an EGR gas temperature at an EGR valve based at least upon the exhaust gas temperature and the EGR mass flow rate. In addition, the method comprises estimating an EGR gas temperature at a throttle body based at least upon the exhaust gas temperature and the EGR mass flow rate. Furthermore, the method comprises estimating a charge temperature based at least upon the EGR gas temperature at the throttle body, the velocity of the vehicle, and the EGR mass flow rate.

Abstract: An engine control system including a variable displacement internal combustion engine, a plurality of cylinders located in the internal combustion engine, a plurality of fuel injectors for providing fuel to the plurality of cylinders, a plurality of valves coupled to the plurality of cylinders, the plurality of valves controlling the air flow in and out of the cylinders, an actuation apparatus for actuating the plurality of valves, an intake manifold coupled to the internal combustion engine, a throttle coupled to the intake manifold, a controller electronically coupled to the fuel injectors, an accelerator pedal position sensor electronically coupled to the controller, and where the controller determines the number of the cylinders to provide with fuel and air and a desired engine output torque based on at least the accelerator pedal position sensor and the controller controls the throttle to control the amount of air entering the intake manifold, where the controller is capable of eliminating torque disturb

Abstract: A method of generating low voltage auxiliary power forms for electric or hybrid vehicle use by tapping power from the traction motor primary winding with a secondary winding and rectifier.

Abstract: An improved anti-lock rear brake yaw control method utilizes a measure of braking intensity to regulate both the initiation of yaw control and the anti-lock braking control parameters once yaw control is initiated. The brake torque and the rate of brake pedal depression provide measures of braking intensity, and are used to develop variable slip and deceleration thresholds to which the rear wheel differential slip and deceleration are compared. The variable thresholds permit initiation of yaw control at relatively low levels of differential wheel slip or deceleration during panic braking, while requiring higher levels of differential wheel slip or deceleration to initiate yaw control during moderate braking.

Abstract: A method of controlling a powertrain for a hybrid vehicle, the method including providing an internal combustion engine, providing a motor generator operatively coupled to the internal combustion engine, providing an automatic transmission operatively coupled to the internal combustion engine, and actuating the motor generator to a certain speed to restart the vehicle.

Abstract: A propulsion system for use in a hybrid vehicle, the propulsion system includes an internal combustion engine, an electric motor/generator operatively coupled to the internal combustion engine, an electric storage medium, and a propulsion system controller for actuating the propulsion system. The propulsion system controller varies the operating conditions of the electric motor/generator system in response to operating conditions of the vehicle. The propulsion system controller further varies the operating conditions of the electric motor/generator during an engine cranking sequence.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the switching states of a target wheel used in an internal combustion engine, the method including providing a camshaft, providing a target wheel having teeth coupled to the camshaft, providing a sensor to detect the teeth of the target wheel, providing a cam phaser to phase the camshaft relative to a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine, homing the cam phaser to a known position relative to the crankshaft, rotating the crankshaft and camshaft, detecting the switching of the teeth by the sensor, referencing switching information detected by the teeth to crankshaft position information to produce a calibration for the target wheel, and storing the calibration in a controller to be use for control of the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A power control system for an electric traction motor in a vehicle comprising at least one inverter for providing conditioned electrical power to the electric traction motor, a plurality of power stages for providing DC power to the at least one inverter, each stage including a battery and boost/buck DC—DC converter, the power stages wired in parallel, and where the power stages are controlled to maintain an output voltage to the at least one inverter.

Abstract: An improved assembly method and a corresponding diagnostic method carried out by an electronic engine control module in a factory test setting reliably and inexpensively verifies correct matching of a vehicle engine and an exhaust gas oxygen sensor installed on an exhaust pipe thereof. Heating elements within the oxygen sensors are manufactured so as to exhibit an electrical resistance that is different for each type of sensor. Due to normal part-to-part tolerance variation, the heater resistance of one type of oxygen sensor falls into a first range, and the heater resistance of the other type of oxygen sensor falls into a second range. The electronic control module for each engine is calibrated as part of its overall fuel control calibration, to recognize an oxygen sensor current requirement range corresponding to the respective fuel control (i.e., leaded or unleaded).

Abstract: An apparatus for heating the interior compartment of a vehicle, the apparatus has a primary heating system, a secondary heating system and an operating system. The primary heating system receives and circulates an engine coolant through a heater core. The secondary heating system receives and circulates a gas, the secondary heating system heats the gas and circulates the heated gas through a heat exchanger. The operating system for operating the heating systems, the operating system receives a plurality of inputs and in response to the inputs the operating system determines which of the heating systems is to be activated in response to a heating request. The operating system also determines whether or not to deactivate one or both of the heating systems.

Abstract: A method of providing engine timing information for an engine having a plurality of cylinders including detecting a fault for a crankshaft sensor generating engine timing information with a camshaft sensor, providing spark and fuel with the engine timing information generated by the camshaft sensor, and shutting off fuel to at least one of the cylinders.

Abstract: An improved control for the heater element of a motor vehicle engine exhaust gas oxygen sensor determines the temperature of the heater element and adjusts the heater element current by closed-loop control to minimize deviation of the heater element temperature from a desired heater temperature determined in relation to the desired oxygen sensor temperature. The heater temperature is calculated based on the heater element resistance, and the heater resistance is adaptively adjusted to account for sensor-to-sensor variation. The adaptive adjustment is updated based on a deviation of the measured heater element resistance from an expected value under predetermined calibration conditions at engine start-up.

Abstract: A vehicle control system includes a variable displacement internal combustion engine, a transmission coupled to the variable displacement internal combustion engine, an intake manifold coupled to the variable displacement internal combustion engine, a throttle coupled to the intake manifold, an engine controller for controlling the throttle and the variable displacement internal combustion engine, and a transmission controller for controlling the transmission. The engine controller transfers a throttle position or load value to the transmission controller. This throttle position or load value is independent of the actual displacement of the variable displacement internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A method of controlling a vehicle is provided. The method includes controlling a continuously variable transmission and an engine with a supervisory controller and a powertrain controller; providing a driver input to the supervisory controller; controlling the supervisory controller to constrain the engine along a predetermined operating curve during a steady state condition of the driver input; and controlling the supervisory controller to relax the engine from the predetermined operating curve during a non-steady state condition of the driver input such that the powertrain controller coordinates an engine throttle and a rate of change of the continuously variable transmission ratio. Here, the predetermined operating curve is maintained by adjusting a continuously variable transmission ratio.