Abstract: Systems for efficiently starting an engine of a hybrid electric vehicle are provided. An example of a system comprises a first processor and a second processor. The second processor is configured to determine when to start an internal combustion engine, cause energy to be supplied from an energy storage device to a generator/motor to cause the generator/motor and crankshaft to rotate to at least a hold speed, transmit a first instruction to a first processor when determining that the internal combination engine should be started. The first processor does not supply fuel to at least one cylinder of the internal combustion engine in response to the first instruction. The second processor is configured to transmit a second instruction to the first processor after a variable period of time has elapse after the generator/motor or crankshaft has reached at least the hold speed.

Abstract: An apparatus that allows for access to any and all registers of a central processing unit in a line replaceable unit (LRU) without a need to open the housing of the LRU is provided. The apparatus may receive write or read packets from an external device and relay the same to an LRU. The apparatus may receive state information from one or more registers of the LRU in response. The apparatus may transmit or transfer the state information to an external device. The apparatus may be used to update firmware in the LRU, for diagnostics or testing.

Abstract: A method for initializing an engine control system of an aircraft may include authenticating a boot loader, authenticating a manifest in response to authentication of the boot loader wherein the manifest contains hashes of one or more software components, and in response to authentication of the manifest, loading a first set of software components from among the one or more software components onto a non-transitory computer-readable medium, calculating a hash of each software component of the first set of software components, authenticating the first set of software components by comparing the calculated hash of each software component of the first set of software components to the hash of a corresponding software component in the manifest, and executing the first set of software components in response to authentication of the one or more software components. Devices and systems are also provided for initializing an engine control system of an aircraft.

Abstract: A distributed control system includes an electronic control unit to establish secure communication with a distributed control module. Upon determination that a previously negotiated session key is stored on the electronic control unit, the electronic control unit transmits encrypted communications with the distributed control module using the previously negotiated session key, negotiates a new session key with the distributed control module, and stores the new session key. Upon determination that the previously negotiated session key is not stored on the electronic control unit, the electronic control unit negotiates the new session key with the distributed control module. After negotiating the new session key with the distributed control module, the electronic control unit ceases transmission of unencrypted communications with the distributed control module, transmits encrypted communications with the distributed control module using the new session key, and stores the new session key.

Abstract: Apparatuses and techniques for reducing backlash between components in a transmission system are provided. The apparatuses and techniques provide a controllable torque over a target range of motion of a component in the transmission system. This eliminates the play at the interfaces between components and forces the components to maintain a controlled contact between the interfacing surfaces.

Abstract: An energy management system (EMS) for an aircraft is provided. The aircraft may have one of a plurality of propulsion systems such as a parallel hybrid electric propulsion system, a parallel turbo electric propulsion system, an electric propulsion system, a turbo electric propulsion system and a turbo hybrid electric propulsion system. The EMS comprises redundant control paths for controlling safety critical operation. Each redundant control path is configured to independently determine whether to electrically isolate a line replaceable unit (LRU) from a high voltage DC link (HVDC link) based on status information from the LRU. The isolation is based on the independent determination. The HVDC link is used for propulsion. The number of the redundant control paths and components may be depending on the type of the propulsion system.

Abstract: A system for controlling load sharing between multiple generators mechanically coupleable to the output shaft of a prime mover is provided. The system may comprise a first processor; and at least two inverters operably connectable to at least two generators, respectively. The generators provide AC power to the respective inverter and each inverter provides DC power to a respective DC link. Each inverter may comprise a processor configured to control a respective generator. The processor may be configured to receive a common speed command from the first processor, adjust the common speed command based on a speed of the same output shaft to create a droop, determine a torque command based on the adjusted speed command and supply the determined torque command to the corresponding generator.

Abstract: A lithium-ion battery assembly includes a plurality of battery cells in a spaced-apart and generally parallel arrangement, each cell of the battery cells extending along a central axis and having a first end portion with a negative terminal and a second end portion with a positive terminal. The assembly includes a first capture plate and a second capture plate, where at least the first capture plate defines capture plate openings corresponding to the plurality of battery cells, the first capture plate spaced from and oriented generally parallel to the second capture plate. Each of the plurality of battery cells extends between the first and second capture plates and is coaxially arranged with one of the capture plate openings in the first capture plate. The assembly optionally includes a body between the capture plates, the body defining a void for each battery cell.

Abstract: A method for charging a battery includes coupling an electrical device in a circuit between the battery and an electrical power source. The electrical device having on and off states that are mechanically different. The method includes charging the battery by setting the electrical device to the on state, measuring current flowing through contacts of the electrical device while in the on state, determining current as a function of time flowing through the contacts of the electrical device, using the current as a function of time as a variable in a thermal model based on heating of the contacts and cooling of the contacts, determining by the thermal model a predicted temperature of the contacts based on the current as a function of time and the heating and cooling of the contacts and controlling the on and off state of the electrical device based on the predicted temperature.

Abstract: An apparatus that allows for access to any and all registers of a central processing unit in a line replaceable unit (LRU) without a need to open the housing of the LRU is provided. The apparatus may receive write or read packets from an external device and relay the same to an LRU. The apparatus may receive state information from one or more registers of the LRU in response. The apparatus may transmit or transfer the state information to an external device. The apparatus may be used to update firmware in the LRU, for diagnostics or testing.

Abstract: Passive filters, line replaceable units and a modular power supply are provided. In one example the modular power supply has a DC bus link having a positive line and a negative line with at least one passive filter and an inductor having a first end and a second end, the first end coupleable to a phase output. A diode bridge having at least a first diode and a second diode, with an anode of the first diode coupleable to the second end of the inductor and a cathode of the first diode coupleable to the positive line, wherein a cathode of the second diode is coupleable to the second end of the inductor and an anode of the second diode is coupleable to the negative line, and wherein the first diode and the second diode are each configured to produce a combined reverse recovery charge that achieves a target DV/DT for an output voltage of the at least one passive filter.

Abstract: A method for charging a battery includes coupling an electrical device in a circuit between the battery and an electrical power source. The electrical device having on and off states that are mechanically different. The method includes charging the battery by setting the electrical device to the on state, measuring current flowing through contacts of the electrical device while in the on state, determining current as a function of time flowing through the contacts of the electrical device, using the current as a function of time as a variable in a thermal model based on heating of the contacts and cooling of the contacts, determining by the thermal model a predicted temperature of the contacts based on the current as a function of time and the heating and cooling of the contacts and controlling the on and off state of the electrical device based on the predicted temperature.

Abstract: Techniques and architecture are disclosed for array of light emitting diodes. For example, the array may comprise a plurality of stages, each stage comprising a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) connected to a floating switch, respectively. The LEDs may be arranged substantially linearly on a circuit board in a plurality of clusters, where a distance between adjacent LEDs within a cluster is smaller than a distance between LEDs in adjacent clusters. Adjacent clusters contain LEDs from different stages and each stage contains LEDs in different clusters. The array may be incorporated in a lighting system. The light system may have a closed loop feedback mechanism which directly detects light emitted from a subset of the LEDs and a controller which controls the array based on the detection.

Abstract: An electronic power device including transistors formed on a circuit assembly formed of a plurality of layers. The layers include gate drive layers, gate return layers, and power layers. A gate drive circuit is formed on the circuit assembly, and is connected to the gate and source of each of the transistors through the gate drive layers and the gate return layers. A voltage supply connection is provided to each of the plurality of transistors interleaved through the power layers. The circuit assembly includes a multilayer circuit board and/or a multilayer ceramic substrate. The ceramic substrate includes the power layers and transistors. The gate drive and return layers and gate drive circuit may be formed within the ceramic substrate or the circuit board. The ceramic substrate may be located in a modular housing. The circuit board may be outside the modular housing or inside the modular housing.

Abstract: A port is provided that utilized various techniques to manage contention for the same by controlling data that is written to and read from the port in multi-core assembly within a usable computing system. When the port is a sampling port, the assembly may include at least two cores, a plurality of buffers in operative communication with the at least one sampling ports, a non-blocking contention management unit comprising a plurality of pointers that collectively operate to manage contention of shared ports in a multi-core computing system. When the port is queuing port, the assembly may include buffers in communication with the queuing port and the buffers are configured to hold multiple messages in the queuing port. The assembly may manage contention of shared queuing ports in a multi-core computing system.

Abstract: Passive filters, line replaceable units and a modular power supply are provided. The passive filter comprises an inductor and a diode bridge. The inductor has a first end and a second end. The first end is coupleable to a phase output of an inverter. The diode bridge comprises a first diode and a second diode. The anode of the first diode is coupled to the second end of the inductor and a cathode of the first diode is coupleable to a positive DC bus voltage. The cathode of the second diode is coupled to the second end of the inductor and the anode of the second diode is coupleable to a negative DC bus voltage. The passive filter output is coupleable to cable(s) for an AC electric machine. A reverse recovery charge of the diodes achieves a target DV/DT for an output voltage of the passive filter at operating temperatures.

Abstract: An insulator interface serves as both an insulator and the forming tool for a busbar. The busbar insulator interface includes a hollow riser having at least one channel extending between first and second openings at opposite ends of the riser, a busbar forming section located at one of the first and second openings of the riser and a terminal locating section extending from the busbar forming section, wherein the busbar forming section is configured for folding a busbar onto the terminal locating section. A busbar assembly includes a combination of a single piece busbar and an insulator interface. The busbar has one end pre-formed and other end straight to allow the busbar to pass through the insulator interface. The busbar insulator interface is designed to act as the forming tool with the proper bend radius for the busbar.

Abstract: A rotor hub assembly includes a rotor hub, a rotor and a cooling sleeve surrounding the rotor hub and located between the rotor hub and the rotor. Coolant flows between the rotor hub and the rotor during spinning of the rotor hub assembly. The cooling sleeve may include channels formed in the inner surface. The rotor hub may include an annular channel in fluid communication with the cooling sleeve channels. The annular channel may include apertures such that the cavities in the rotor hub are in fluid communication with the cooling sleeve. Coolant circulating within the rotor hub enters the annular channel and the channels in the cooling sleeve from centrifugal force caused by spinning of the rotor hub assembly.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for authentication components of a public network are disclosed. A master compares an actual HMAC with an expected HMAC, determines that component fails authentication when the actual HMAC does not match the expected HMAC and causes at least one operation to be inhibited when component fails authentication for a preset number of times while the component is connected to the public network. The actual HMAC is determined by the component. The expected HMAC and actual HMAC are independently determined using the same process and using a key. The same key is stored, in advance, in both the master and the component and not transmitted. The master generates a random number and sends the same to the component. The expected HMAC and actual HMAC are determined using the random number input into a one-way hash function.

Abstract: Systems, devices, methods and programs for reducing emissions from engines are provided. For example, one system for reducing emissions from engines comprises a heating controller coupled to an energy storage device (ESD). The heating controller is configured to control a heating element to heat one or more components of an after-treatment system using energy from the ESD under a first condition and to control the heating element to stop heating the one or more components of the after-treatment system when a second condition is satisfied. Additionally, another system for reducing emissions from engines comprises a controller detecting a decrease in a demanded torque from an engine and an ISG. The controller is then configured to operate a clutch to disengage the engine from the ISG, if after removing fuel from the engine, the sensed speed of the engine is above a threshold.