Abstract: A brake system for a motor vehicle including front wheel brakes, rear wheel brakes, and a hydraulic system supplying hydraulic fluid to the wheel brakes. An electronic brake control connected to the hydraulic system actuates the hydraulic system to build up a brake pressure and supply the wheel brakes with the hydraulic fluid. The system includes a parking brake system that activates the rear wheel brakes. The electronic brake control actuates the hydraulic system to build up a brake pressure and at the beginning of an emergency braking procedure closes valves of the hydraulic system associated with the rear wheel brakes, opens valves of the hydraulic system associated with the front wheel brakes, and activates the parking brake system while keeping the valves of the hydraulic system associated with the rear wheel brakes closed for a period of adjustable length.

Abstract: A vehicle may include battery cells and a controller configured to control the vehicle, based on a state observation of the battery cells, using model parameters computed according to controller-determined cell nominal parameters adjusted by remotely-determined cell delta parameters, the delta parameters received from an external computing device responsive to cell measurements relating to a cell battery model sent to the external computing device, the delta parameters indicating adjustments that improve accuracy of the nominal parameters.

Abstract: A method of detecting a leak in a battery pack according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, calculating a predicted amount of thermal energy at a position, measuring an actual amount of thermal energy at the position, and comparing the predicted amount to the actual amount to identify if a battery pack is leaking.

Abstract: A vehicle overhead console is provided which includes a conversation mirror assembly having a housing capable of storing a conversation mirror. The conversation mirror may travel between a stored and a use position. The conversation mirror is releasably secured to the stored and use positions by way of magnetic, tab, and spring arrangements.

Abstract: A vehicle console includes a frame and an impact absorbing device supported on the frame. The impact absorbing device includes a bladder connected to the frame and a panel connected to the bladder. The bladder and the panel define an inflation chamber between the bladder and the panel. The panel is rigid relative to the bladder. An inflator is in communication with the inflation chamber.

Abstract: A hybrid electric vehicle includes an engine and an electric motor both configured to generate a vehicle powertrain torque and a controller programmed to control the powertrain torque for a limited duration in anticipation of a powertrain torque variation scenario using a damping function, wherein the damping function adjusts the vehicle powertrain torque based on a difference between a measured motor speed and a desired motor speed using the electric motor to counteract a powertrain speed oscillation.

Abstract: A seat attachment system for a vehicle frame includes a vehicle frame having a lower seat-bracket receptacle defined within a frame base and an upper seat-bracket receptacle defined within an upper frame member, a seat frame attached to the vehicle frame at the lower and upper seat-bracket receptacles and a lower seat-bracket set comprising a rotation-free lower bracket and a rotational lower bracket, wherein the lower seat bracket receptacle receives one of the rotation-free lower bracket and the rotational lower bracket, wherein when the rotation-free lower bracket is attached to the lower seat-bracket receptacle and the seat frame is coupled with the rotation-free lower bracket, the seat frame is free of rotational movement, and wherein when the rotational lower bracket is attached to the lower seat-bracket receptacle and the seat frame is coupled with the rotational lower bracket, the seat frame is capable of rotational movement.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polymerization inhibitor composition and a method of inhibiting polymerization of distillable monomers in liquid and evaporated/condensed phases with the polymerization inhibitor composition. The polymerization inhibitor composition is useful for inhibiting polymerization of the distillable monomers during manufacture, purification (e.g., distillation), handling, and storage thereof.

Abstract: A vehicle may include a powertrain having an engine and a generator coupled to a driveshaft, an inverter configured to provide phase currents to the generator, and a controller programmed to output a fault condition based on first and second generator torques, the first generator torque being based on an engine torque and the second generator torque being based on no more than two phase currents of the generator.

Abstract: A vehicle door latch assembly includes a first proximity sensor on a first side of a door handle and a second proximity sensor on a second side of the door handle. The assembly also includes a latch operative to latch the door closed and to unlatch the door to allow the door to open. The assembly further includes control circuitry for activating the latch to unlatch the door based on an object such as an operator's hand sensed with both the first and second proximity sensors.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of gathering data includes querying, via a vehicle computing system, a plurality of weather sensors included with a vehicle and in communication with a vehicle network. The method also includes determining whether or not appropriate conditions exist for storage of data from the sensor, for each of the sensors. Additionally, the method includes storing the data from the sensor if appropriate conditions exist. Finally, the method includes sending, from the vehicle computing system to a remote network, data from one or more queried sensors and current GPS coordinates of the vehicle.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes changing a scheduled preconditioning cycle of an electrified vehicle in response to a period without a key cycle of the electrified vehicle. Another exemplary method includes communicating an alert to an operator of an electrified vehicle in response to at least one preconditioning cycle of the electrified vehicle without a key cycle of the electrified vehicle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a deployable pedestrian protection leg stiffener of a motor vehicle based upon the vehicle braking status and longitudinal acceleration.

Abstract: Pattern shrink methods comprise: (a) providing a semiconductor substrate comprising one or more layers to be patterned; (b) providing a resist pattern over the one or more layers to be patterned; (c) coating a shrink composition over the pattern, wherein the shrink composition comprises a polymer and an organic solvent, wherein the polymer comprises a group containing a hydrogen acceptor effective to form a bond with an acid group and/or an alcohol group at a surface of the resist pattern, and wherein the composition is free of crosslinkers; and (d) rinsing residual shrink composition from the substrate, leaving a portion of the polymer bonded to the resist pattern. Also provided are pattern shrink compositions, and coated substrates and electronic devices formed by the methods. The invention find particular applicability in the manufacture of semiconductor devices for providing high resolution patterns.

Abstract: Systems and methods for improving operation of a stop/start vehicle are presented. In one example, an engine throttle position is adjusted in response to whether or not a starter engages a flywheel during engine stopping. The throttle may be adjusted to a more open position if the starter engages the flywheel or to a more closed position if the starter does not engage the flywheel.

Abstract: A side pillar air curtain guide includes a main body having an air curtain ramp formed by a plurality of ribs. Those ribs project from the main body at an acute and included angle with the main body so as to provide enhanced deformability in a horizontal direction as an energy absorbing countermeasure in the event of a head impact by an occupant of the vehicle when in a side impact collision.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for expediting EGR purging in a hybrid vehicle during transient operations, such as tip-out to lower load conditions. In response to decreasing engine torque demand, engine fueling is disabled and a motor is used to spin the engine unfueled until a desired LP-EGR rate is achieved. Alternatively, engine operation is maintained with EGR disabled until the desired LP-EGR rate is achieved, and the excess engine torque generated is stored in a system battery.

Abstract: A system includes a processor configured to discover charging station locations within a predefined proximity to a route for which vehicle-charging is required to complete. The processor is also configured to determine a charging cost at each discovered station, including at least battery-damage resulting from a charge. The processor is further configured to present a plurality of charging stations, including the charging costs and an estimated total route time for each station. Also, the processor is configured to receive a station selection and present a route including a stop at the selected station.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes connecting to a remote system and requesting data relating to a quality of air level in the vicinity of a known vehicle location. The method further includes receiving data relating to the quality of air level and comparing the data to one or more predetermined threshold levels of tolerance. If the data exceeds at least one threshold level of tolerance an automatic vehicle computing system response is instructed. In this example, the method also includes activating one or more vehicle systems in response to the data exceeding the at least one threshold level of tolerance.

Abstract: A vehicular instrument panel including a substrate having a first plurality of chopped carbon fibers within a first nylon resin and an expanded reinforcement coupled to the substrate having a second plurality of chopped carbon fibers within a second nylon resin. The first plurality of chopped carbon fibers and the first plurality of glass fibers in the substrate are segregated such that the carbon fibers and the glass fibers are each substantially concentrated within respective driver-side and passenger-side portions of the substrate. An expanded, structural duct has a second plurality of chopped glass fibers within a third nylon resin. The duct, reinforcement and substrate are coupled to form a hollow tube.