Abstract: The present invention provides a multipurpose activity frame for a vehicle articulating roof rack system including a vehicle articulating roof rack system having a selectively removable portion operable between a stowed roof mounted position and a slideably and pivotally repositionable back end mounted position, a stationary top portion received by the selectively removable portion of the articulating roof rack system, and a rotatable bottom portion operable between a stowed vertical position and an open horizontal position received by the stationary top portion.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling an automotive internal combustion engine having NVH feedback uses NVH signals which are processed and compared with human threshold values to determine whether an engine control parameter such as idle speed needs to be adjusted so as to mitigate unwanted noise, vibration, and harshness.

Abstract: The air flow into an engine is estimated via a speed-density calculation wherein the volumetric efficiency is estimated on-line. There are three interconnected observers in the estimation scheme. The first observer estimates the flow through the throttle based on the signal from a mass air flow sensor (MAF). The second observer estimates the intake manifold pressure using the ideal gas law and the signal from a intake manifold absolute pressure sensor (MAP). The third observer estimates the volumetric efficiency and provides an estimate of the air flow into the engine.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine having at least one automatically controllable airflow actuator and an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system including an EGR valve include determining a desired manifold pressure based at least in part on position of the automatically controllable airflow actuator and controlling the EGR valve such that a measured manifold pressure approaches the desired manifold pressure. In one embodiment, the automatically controllable airflow actuators include a charge motion control valve and a variable cam timing device. In other embodiments, the automatically controllable airflow actuators may include variable valve lift devices, variable valve timing devices, or any other device that affects the residual exhaust gases within the cylinders.

Abstract: A fugitive hydrocarbon treatment module and system for controlling the emission of hydrocarbons from the air intake system of an engine includes a zeolite adsorber unit positioned in the air intake system such that all gases flowing to and from the engine through the air intake system pass through the adsorber, so as to allow hydrocarbons borne by the gases to be adsorbed upon the substrate of the adsorber unit when the engine is shut down and desorbed from the adsorber unit when the engine is in operation.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling first and second phase shiftable camshafts in a variable cam timing engine is provided. The method includes determining when the first camshaft is moving toward a first scheduled phase angle with respect to the crankshaft with a larger camshaft angular positioning error than the second camshaft. Finally, the method includes slowing down the first camshaft so that synchronized camshaft positioning can be better achieved.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling EGR rate of an internal combustion engine. The engine has an intake throttle for controlling mass flow to an intake of the engine and an EGR valve for controlling flow from the exhaust of the engine back to the intake of the engine along with air passing through the intake throttle. The method includes measuring a mass air flow passing to the intake throttle and a desired mass air flow. An error signal is produced representative of a difference between the measure mass air flow and the desired mass air flow. A pair of control signals is produced in response to such produced error signal. One of the pair of control signals is used to adjust the intake throttle to control mass air flow through such intake throttle. The other one of the pair of control signals is used to adjust EGR flow through the EGR valve. The pair of control signals operate the intake throttle and the EGR valve to drive the error signal towards a null.

Abstract: A system for sensing a potential collision of a first vehicle (11) with a second vehicle (72) that transmits a second position signal. The first vehicle has a pre-crash sensing system (10) includes a memory (14) that stores vehicle data and generates a vehicle data signal. A first global positioning system (18) generates a first position signal corresponding to a position of the first vehicle. A first sensor (20) generating sensor data signals from the first vehicle. A receiver (22) receives a second position signal from the second vehicle. A countermeasure system (40) is also coupled within the first vehicle. A controller (12) is coupled to the memory (14), the global positioning receiver (18) the first sensor (20) and the counter measure system (40). The controller (12) determines a distance to the second vehicle in as a function of the second position signal. The controller determines a first vehicle trajectory from the vehicle data, the first sensor data signal and the position signal.

Abstract: An exhaust aftertreatment system for an internal combustion engine is disclosed which mitigates deleterious poisoning of a catalytic converter or exhaust gas oxygen sensor by phosphorus containing species.

Abstract: A soft hybrid-electric vehicle power supply circuit (14) is provided. The circuit includes a load sensor (19), which generates a load signal. A high-voltage bus (26) supplies a high voltage for a high-voltage load (30) and a low-voltage bus (28) is electrically coupled to and supplying a low-voltage to a low-voltage load (32). A converter circuit (24) is electrically coupled to the high-voltage bus (26), the low-voltage bus (28), and a high-voltage load (30). The converter circuit (24) maintains a predetermined minimum voltage level on the high-voltage load (30) by switching between the high-voltage bus (26) and the low-voltage bus (28) in response to the load signal. A method of maintaining the predetermined minimum voltage level is also provided.

Abstract: An accumulator 114 is provided in an engine 7 camshaft 73 having at least one lobe and an internal cavity 170. A compliance member 174 is provided for pressurizing the fluid within the internal cavity 170.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine arrangement 7 with a variable cam timing unit pressurized oil supply arrangement 49 is provided. A first pump 44 delivers oil through a first check valve 62 to a VCT unit 83 and additionally provides oil to the engine lubrication system. A second oil pump 104 provides pressurized oil to the VCT unit 83 through a second check valve 106. An accumulator 114 is connected between the first 62 and second 106 check valves to pressurize oil delivered to the variable cam timing unit 83.

Abstract: A stability control system (18) for an automotive vehicle includes a plurality of sensors (28-39) sensing the dynamic conditions of the vehicle. The sensors may include a speed sensor (20), a lateral acceleration sensor (32), a roll rate sensor (34), a yaw rate sensor (20) and a longitudinal acceleration sensor (36). The controller (26) is coupled to the speed sensor (20), the lateral acceleration sensor (32), the roll rate sensor (34), the yaw rate sensor (28) and a longitudinal acceleration sensor (36). The controller (26) has an anti-integration drift filter and a steady state recovery filter. The controller determines a roll attitude angle, a pitch attitude angle and a yaw attitude angle in response to the roll angular rate signal, the yaw angular rate signal, the lateral acceleration signal, the longitudinal acceleration signal, the wheel speed signal, the anti-integration drift filter and the steady state recovery filter.

Abstract: A method of recording a plurality of audio signals associated with an entertainment sound system (42) of an automotive vehicle (12) includes an audio input (20). A plurality of audio signals (18) is transmitted from the audio input (20) to a controller (24) within the automotive vehicle (12). A preferred plurality of audio signals (36) is acoustically played on the entertainment sound system (42). A recorder (28) is actuated to record the preferred plurality of audio signals (34) onto an electronic medium (30) within the vehicle (42). Consequently, the preferred plurality of audio signals (34) is recorded onto the electronic medium (30). An acoustical transmission of the preferred plurality of audio signals (34) received from said audio input (20) is halted at a halting point. Finally, the acoustical transmission is resumed from the electronic medium (30), from the halting point simultaneously as the plurality of audio signals (18) continues being recorded.

Abstract: A vehicle brake system 10 is provided which compensates for brake pedal feel variation to provide enhanced braking feel. The brake system 10 includes a brake pedal 18, a wheel speed sensor 20, and a database 16 for storing target accelerations and torque to pressure parameters. The brake system 10 may employ a friction brakes 26 and regenerative brakes 29. The brake system further includes a controller 12 for controlling the amount of braking, including the friction brake actuator 24. The controller 12 determines brake acceleration caused by braking torque and determines a target acceleration based on the driver commanded input. The controller 12 also determines a brake acceleration error as the difference between the target acceleration and the brake acceleration. The controller adjusts the torque-related parameter to reduce the brake acceleration error by adjusting the braking torque generated by the friction brake actuator to compensate for brake torque variation.

Abstract: A damper system for hybrid vehicles powered by an internal combustion engine and an electrical motor, and the damper system is located between the gear system and the electrical motor. The damper system connects the electrical motor to a hub ring attached to a pair of cover plates, which are separated by a plurality of spacer bolts. A flange, which is placed between the cover plates, connects to a shaft attached to the gear system via another hub ring. The flange has a plurality of windows for locating coil springs. The inertia of the electrical motor is linked to the inertia of the gear system through the coil springs.

Abstract: A theft resistant vehicle system (10) includes a security system (12) adapted to generate a first control signal as a function of the substantial meeting of a parameter for activating and a second control signal in response to a failure to meet the parameter. An inverter (22) is adapted to receive the control signals and is adapted to deactivate in response to the second control signal and is further adapted to generate an alternating current power signal in response to the first control signal. An electric machine (24) is adapted to receive the alternating current power signal.

Abstract: A method of distributing a torque demand in a hybrid electric vehicle having an internal combustion engine 200 and an electric motor 202 is provided. In hybrid operation, the motor 202 initially starts the vehicle. When the vehicle desired power demand reaches a first vehicle 27. A method as described in claim 26, wherein said third predefined percentage of accelerator pedal travel position is 0%.operational parameter, a controller 214 switches the torque demand to the engine 200. An accelerator pedal 220 has a position sensor 222 which determines a non-fixed pedal 220 first position during transition between the motor 202 and engine 200. The accelerator pedal 220 also has a preset second position wherein a maximum of engine 200 torque is requested. The controller 214, cognizant of the accelerator pedal 220 first and second positions, linearly scales the accelerator pedal 220 to provide a uniform torque-responsive accelerator pedal.

Abstract: A hybrid power system (10) for supplying power to a load (12) such as an electric vehicle is provided. The power system (10) includes an energy storage device (14) and a fuel cell system (16). When the state of charge of the energy storage device (14) is greater than or equal to a predetermined state of charge, the energy storage device (14) supplies all of the power to the load (12). When the state of charge of the energy storage device (14) falls below the predetermined state of charge, the fuel cell system (16) supplies at least a portion of the power to the load (12). In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the fuel cell system (16) then supplies all of the power to the load (12) as long as the power requirement of the load (12) does not exceed an optimal power output of the fuel cell system (16).

Abstract: A method of recording a recommended plurality of audio signals (40) in an entertainment sound system (42) associated with an automotive vehicle (12)includes a central server (14) for processing a plurality of data (16) associated with a plurality of audio signals (18). A data input (22) within the vehicle (12) receives the plurality of data (16). An audio input (20) within the vehicle (12) receives the plurality of audio signals (18). The plurality of data (16) is transmitted from the central server (14) through said data input (22) to a controller (24) within the automotive vehicle (12). Furthermore, the plurality of data (16) is transmitted through the data input (22) to the controller (24). A preferred plurality of audio signals (34) received from the audio input (20) is acoustically played on the entertainment sound system (42). Then, a preferred plurality of data (36) associated with the preferred plurality of audio signals (34) is recorded onto a user profile stored on an electronic medium (30).