Abstract: A fuel cell system that employs a two-position valve at the cathode exhaust gas output for controlling the pressure within the fuel cell stack to control the stack relative humidity. In one embodiment, the two-position valve is switchable between a fully open and a fully closed position, where the valve is opened when the fuel cell system is operating at a low operation temperature and the valve is closed when the fuel cell system is operating at a high operation temperature. A fixed restriction valve is provided in parallel with the two-position valve so that when the two-position valve is fully closed, the proper amount of pressure is provided at the cathode output. In another embodiment, the two-position valve employs sized leak paths so that when the two-position valve is in the closed position, the cathode exhaust gas can still flow through.

Abstract: A system for estimating vehicle side-slip in the linear vehicle operating region that includes updating front and rear cornering stiffness signals. The system includes a first state observer processor that employs a bicycle model with state feedback for generating yaw acceleration and lateral acceleration signals. The system further includes a subtractor that receives the yaw acceleration and lateral acceleration signals and measured yaw rate and lateral acceleration signals, and generates yaw acceleration and lateral acceleration error signals. A parameter estimation processor calculates an updated front cornering stiffness and rear cornering stiffness signals. The updated front and rear cornering stiffness signals are sent back to the first state observer processor, and are used by second state observer processor for generating the estimated vehicle side-slip.

Abstract: A transceiver array that employs vertically integrated circuits in one or more wafers. The array includes a digital wafer having digital circuits. A plurality of RF cubes are formed to the digital wafer, where each RF cube includes an antenna wafer and at least one lower wafer, and where each RF cube represents a separate channel of the array. The antenna wafer includes a patch antenna and a resonating cavity. The at least one lower wafer includes high frequency RF integrated circuits and intermediate frequency RF integrated circuits. The array has application as a front-end for a digital beam-forming system.

Abstract: A vehicle stability enhancement system that is adapted for an estimated driver workload. The system includes a driver workload estimation processor that estimates the driver workload based on certain factors, such as the vehicle speed or driver-behavior factors. The driver workload estimation is used to adjust the damping ratio and natural frequency in dynamic filters in a command interpreter to adjust a desired yaw rate signal and a desired side-slip signal. The driver workload estimation is also used to generate a yaw rate multiplication factor and a side-slip multiplication factor that modify a yaw rate stability signal and a side-slip stability signal in a feedback control processor that generates a stability control signal.

Abstract: A method for classifying a road surface condition by estimating the maximum tire/road surface coefficient of friction and actively inducing acceleration or deceleration. In one embodiment, the induced acceleration/deceleration is provided by applying torque to the driven wheels of the vehicle. The speeds of the driven and non-driven wheels are measured. The tire/road surface coefficient of friction and the driven wheel slip ratio are calculated from the wheel speeds. The tire/road surface coefficient of friction and the wheel slip ratio are used to determine the slope of the wheel slip/coefficient of friction curve, which is used to classify the road surface condition.

Abstract: A WVT unit for a fuel cell system that employs a spiral-wound design to reduce its size and increase its performance. The WVT unit includes a center tube having a plurality of openings through which the cathode exhaust gas flows. The WVT unit also includes a cylindrical portion wound around the center tube that includes a plurality of enclosures and a plurality of dry spacer layers separating the enclosures. Each enclosure includes a pair of membranes separated by a wet spacer layer. The dry cathode inlet air flows down the dry spacer layers between the enclosures and the cathode exhaust gas flows into the plurality of enclosures through the openings in the center tube along the wet spacer layers to allow the membranes to absorb humidification that is transferred to the cathode inlet air.

Abstract: An auxiliary coolant system, for a fuel cell stack system, includes a reversible coolant pump, a control valve, and plumbing lines. The pump enables the reversal of the coolant flow direction in the fuel cell stack system. The auxiliary coolant system is in parallel with the primary coolant system, and communicates with the primary coolant system via valves. During start-up, when coolant flow is from right-to-left through the fuel cell stack system, one valve of the primary coolant system will be partly open and control the amount of cold coolant make-up from the primary coolant system to the fuel cell stack while the valve of the auxiliary coolant system will be controlling the temperature differential between the inlet and outlet of the stack.

Abstract: A fuel cell including a water blocking layer positioned between anode gas flow channels and a gas diffusion media. The blocking layer prevents water from propagating through the gas diffusion media layer and entering the anode flow channels, while allowing gas from the flow channels to flow through the diffusion media layer to the membrane. A water accumulation channel can be provided around the perimeter of the gas diffusion media layer where blocked water is accumulated, and allowed to expand during cell freezing. A porous capillary wick can be provided in the accumulation channel for wicking water to the inlet end of the flow channels where it is used to humidify the anode gas coming into the fuel cell. The wick can have a tapered configuration so that it has a larger diameter at the gas input end of the flow channels.

Abstract: A method for controlling the pressure within a fuel cell stack to control the stack relative humidity. In one embodiment, a two-position valve receiving the cathode exhaust is switchable between a fully open and a fully closed position, where the valve is opened when the fuel cell system is operating at a low operation temperature and the valve is closed when the fuel cell system is operating at a high operation temperature. A fixed restriction valve is provided in parallel with the two-position valve so that when the two-position valve is fully closed, the proper amount of pressure is provided at the cathode output. In another embodiment, the two-position valve employs leak paths so that when the two-position valve is in the closed position, the cathode exhaust gas can still flow through.

Abstract: A mirror maze that employs lighting in the floor of the maze to add to the optical illusion provided by the mirror maze effect. The mirror maze includes the traditional array of pillars and mirrors where lines are provided between the pillars, and where the space between some of the pillars includes a mirror along a line between the pillars and the space between some of the pillars is open. In one non-limiting embodiment, light strips are provided along the lines between the pillars, where a pair of light strips is positioned adjacent to each other between the pillars that do not include a mirror, and a single light strip is provided between pillars that do include a mirror, so that the reflection of the light strip provides the appearance of a pair of light strips.

Abstract: A method for providing vertebral disc annular fibrosis tensioning and lengthening that restores the loss of disc height and provides disc regeneration. In one non-limiting embodiment, the method includes inserting pedicle screws into the vertebral bodies of adjacent vertebra and positioning a spring in compression between and in contact with the pedicle screws so that the spring bias forces the pedicle screws apart to provide a distractive force that increases the height of the disc space and promotes the disc regeneration.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a compressed gas tank that includes a combination of an injection molding process and a rotomolding process. In a first step, a boss to be positioned in the opening of an outer structural layer of the tank is provided and a thin portion of the liner is injection molded to the boss so that a channel within the boss is filled with the liner material to increase the seal integrity between the boss and the liner. Once the liner material is hardened, the surface of the injection molding liner portion is cleaned. Next, a rotomolding process is performed to mold the remaining portion of the liner to the boss. During the rotomolding process, the injection molded portion of the liner melts to be part of the liner made during the rotomolding process.

Abstract: A dynamic braking load analyzer that determines the proper resistance value for a dynamic braking load resistor to be used in combination with a variable frequency drive or servo-drive to accommodate the power dissipated from an induction motor when it is being reduced in speed. The analyzer includes a resistor bank having a plurality of resistors electrically coupled in parallel. Switches are provided between the resistors, and a resistor selector switch determines which resistors are switched into the resistor bank circuit. A heat sensing resistor in the resistor bank measures the heat generated by the resistors and provides a signal that is read by a heat meter. The combination of the temperature measurement and the resistance of the resistors in the circuit gives the proper braking resistance value for the deceleration of the induction motor.

Abstract: A tank for storing a compressed gas, such as hydrogen, that includes a connection assembly to increase seal integrity. The tank includes an inner gas tight liner and an outer support layer that provides the structural integrity. The connection assembly includes a boss positioned within an opening of the support layer. The inner liner includes a neck portion extending through an internal bore of the boss having an outer collar or flange at an outside surface of the boss. A tank valve is bolted to the boss at an outer perimeter of the collar where a portion of the tank valve extends through the neck portion of the liner and into the tank.

Abstract: A fuel cell system that employs a diode electrically coupled between bipolar plates in a fuel cell of a fuel cell stack for preventing the fuel cell between the plates from reversing its polarity. The diode is a thin-sheet p-n diode including doped semiconductor layers and has a thickness relative to the thickness of the MEA in the fuel cell so that the overall stack thickness does not increase. When the fuel cell is operating properly the diode does not conduct and all of the current through the fuel cell goes through the MEA. If the electric load on the stack increases to a level beyond the capability of the fuel cell, where the potential across the fuel cell goes significantly below zero, the diode will begin to conduct so that any current that cannot travel through the MEA with the cell voltage less than one negative forward diode voltage drop is able to go around the MEA through the diode.

Abstract: An anode inlet unit for a split fuel cell stack or two fuel cell stacks having two anode inlets. The anode inlet unit has particular application for a small vehicle that requires less power. In one embodiment, the anode inlet unit only includes three injectors. Two of the injectors provide flow control for the hydrogen gas to the two anode inlets to provide the desired turn-down ratio. For a split stack design, the two injectors may provide flow-shifting where the injection of hydrogen gas into the sub-stacks is alternated. The other injector injects a small amount of hydrogen into the cathode side of the fuel cell stack at system start-up to quickly increase the operating temperature of the system. Additionally, two valves can be provided in the unit that receive a flow of air to purge the anode side of the stack for system shut-down.

Abstract: A compressed gas storage tank that has particular application for storing hydrogen for a fuel cell system. The compressed gas tank includes a cylindrical adapter and valve through which the hydrogen is removed from the tank. A low cost generator is positioned in the tank and has a rotating element positioned in a channel extending through the adapter. As hydrogen is removed from the tank, the mass flow of the hydrogen causes the rotating element to rotate which causes the generator to generate electricity. One or more resistive heating element are positioned in the adapter, preferably proximate to tank seals, that receive an electrical current from the generator that heats the resistive heating element and the adapter to increase the temperature of the adapter and the hydrogen being removed from the tank.

Abstract: A vehicle lateral control system that integrates both vehicle dynamics and kinematics control. The system includes a driver interpreter that provides desired vehicle dynamics and predicted vehicle path based on driver input. Error signals between the desired vehicle dynamics and measured vehicle dynamics, and between the predicted vehicle path and the measured vehicle target path are sent to dynamics and kinematics control processors for generating a separate dynamics and kinematics command signals, respectively, to minimize the errors. The command signals are integrated by a control integration processor to combine the commands to optimize the performance of stabilizing the vehicle and tracking the path. The integrated command signal can be used to control one or more of front wheel assist steering, rear-wheel assist steering or differential braking.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack that includes cascaded stack stages and tube bundle flow restrictions for providing a cathode input gas to each stage in the stack. The stack includes a first flow pipe for providing cathode gas flow to a first stage of the plurality of stages of the fuel cell stack. The fuel cell stack also includes a second flow pipe that receives a cathode exhaust gas flow from the first stage and fresh cathode gas flow, where the cathode exhaust gas flow and the fresh cathode gas flow are combined and sent to a second stage of the plurality of stages of the fuel cell stack. The tube bundle flow restriction is positioned within the second flow pipe and controls the flow of the cathode gas flow to the second stage, where the flow restriction provides a laminar flow through the control valve to the second stage.

Abstract: A method for providing an estimate of brake pad thickness. The method employs fusion of sensors, if used, and driver brake modeling to predict the vehicle brake pad life. An algorithm is employed that uses various inputs, such as brake pad friction material properties, brake pad cooling rate, brake temperature, vehicle mass, road grade, weight distribution, brake pressure, brake energy, braking power, etc. to provide the estimation. The method calculates brake work using total work minus losses, such as aerodynamic drag resistance, engine braking and/or braking power as braking torque times velocity divided by rolling resistance to determine the brake rotor and lining temperature. The method then uses the brake temperature to determine the brake pad wear, where the wear is accumulated for each braking event. A brake pad sensor can be included to provide one or more indications of brake pad thickness from which the estimation can be revised.