Abstract: A device and a system are provided. The system may include a perforated barrier disposed within an exhaust stream downstream from the combustion chamber(s). The barrier may divide the exhaust stream radially and longitudinally. A mixing surface may be coupled with the perforated barrier which may define a path within the exhaust stream to impart a swirl to the exhaust stream.

Abstract: A vehicle regenerative braking control system includes a brake pedal; a brake pedal angle sensor interfacing with the brake pedal; a vehicle braking system interfacing with the brake pedal angle sensor, the vehicle braking system adapted to implement friction braking and regenerative braking responsive to receiving a brake pedal angle input signal from the brake pedal angle sensor; and at least one of a brake pedal switch and a brake master cylinder pressure sensor interfacing with the brake pedal and the vehicle braking system. The vehicle braking system is further adapted to implement friction braking and regenerative braking responsive to input from the at least one of a brake pedal switch and a brake master cylinder pressure sensor in the event that the vehicle braking system does not receive the brake pedal angle input signal from the brake pedal angle sensor. A regenerative braking control method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A vehicle seating assembly having a seat back including a polymeric body portion. A flexible comfort carrier is disposed over a front surface of the polymeric body portion and includes a multitude of openings defining a support matrix configured to support the weight of a passenger. A head restraint includes a headrest and a single downwardly extending support post that is homogenously formed with the headrest. The support post includes side portions that define slots. The support post is rotatably coupled to the seat back. The headrest is rotatable between a use position, wherein the downwardly extending support post extends into the seat back, and a storage position, wherein the downwardly extending support post is withdrawn from the seat back and rotated forward such that the head restraint extends substantially orthogonal to the seat back.

Abstract: A vehicle having a sliding door arranged behind a body pillar, a frame around the door opening closeable by the sliding door, a rail system provided in the region of the sliding door connected fixedly to the vehicle and having upper and lower guide rails, sliding carriages provided on the sliding door connected to the sliding door via a respective supporting arm and guided displaceably on the guide rails, and side impact protection in the region of the sliding door. At least one of the sliding carriages or supporting arms is provided with a stop. In the event of a side impact, in which the outer vehicle wall is deformed in the direction of the vehicle interior, an abutment connected to the vehicle wall comes to bear against the stop of the sliding carriage or of the supporting arm, and the position of the sliding door is thereby blocked.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for using an engine laser ignition system to perform a visual inspection of an engine and diagnose various cylinder components and conditions based on engine positional measurements. Laser pulses may be emitted at a lower power level during an intake and/or exhaust stroke to illuminate a cylinder interior while a photodetector captures images of the cylinder interior. Additionally, laser pulses may be emitted at a higher power level to initiate cylinder combustion while the photodetector captures images of the cylinder interior using the light generated during cylinder combustion.

Abstract: A seat assembly includes an easy-entry system with a seat frame having a seatback pivotally coupled to a seat member. An external lever is operably coupled to an engagement lever disposed on the seat frame and is configured to activate the engagement lever to move the seatback into an engaged position with a sector pivotally coupled to the seat frame. A disengagement rod flexibly is coupled to a spring member disposed on the sector at a first end and further coupled to a track release lever at a second end. As such, rotation of the seatback to a release position rotates the track release lever to unlock the seat assembly from a seat track. Further rotation of the seatback from the release position to an over-travel position loads the spring member but does not further rotate the track release lever.

Abstract: Embodiments for controlling exhaust air-fuel ratio are provided. In one example, an engine method comprises adjusting upstream exhaust air-fuel ratio to maintain a first emission control device at or below a threshold temperature, and when the upstream exhaust air-fuel ratio is below a threshold, injecting air into an exhaust passage between the first emission control device and a second emission control device to maintain downstream exhaust at a different, higher air-fuel ratio. In this way, excess emissions may be converted while maintaining the emission control devices below a maximum temperature.

Abstract: A method may comprise, on board a vehicle and executed by a vehicle controller, determining a liquid volume based on a fuel level sensor, determining a gas volume based on the liquid volume, the liquid volume comprising first and second fuels, the gas volume comprising the second fuel, determining a second fuel solubility in the first fuel based on a fuel temperature sensor, determining first and second fuel quantities based on the second fuel solubility, and adjusting engine operation based on the first and second fuel quantities.

Abstract: A vehicle armrest includes an inner armrest substrate having at least one buckling member extending to an outer armrest substrate. A gap is defined by the inner and outer armrest substrates and the at least one buckling member. A fabric member extends across the gap and is attached to the inner and outer armrest substrates. A cover member extends over and is vertically supported by the fabric member.

Abstract: A hybrid electric automotive powertrain includes an electric machine operable in propulsive and regenerative modes. The machine has positive and negative torque limits for the propulsive and regenerative modes, respectively, to reduce potential thermal damage to the machine due to overheating. The negative and positive torque limits are reduced independently as a temperature of the machine increases. The negative torque limit may be reduced at a greater rate than the positive torque limit.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling temperature of a urea reductant to form ammonia for NOx reduction in a selective catalytic reducer coupled to a turbocharged engine exhaust by portioning a flow across the reductant between compressed air and ambient air.

Abstract: An active bolster for an automotive vehicle has a outer trim panel with a welding track. An expandable bladder member has a central section configured to attach to a support structure of a vehicle, a welding flange along a peripheral edge, and a pleated region between the central section and the welding flange. The welding track and the welding flange are joined by a hot weld to form a sealed chamber. The welding track includes a plurality of radially-spaced stepped pits. Each pit has an upper section defining a first opening with a respective first cross-sectional area and a lower section defining a second opening with a respective second cross-sectional area smaller than the respective first area. A perimeter of each upper section is melted by the hot weld and a perimeter of each lower section is not melted by the hot weld.

Abstract: A vehicle inventory interface system may include a user interface configured to present a plurality of vehicle icons each representing a vehicle in a fleet, present at least one list icon associated with each vehicle icon, receive a selection of one of the list icons, and display, in response to the selection, an inventory list associated with the selected list icon and indicating whether items specified by the inventory list are present within the vehicle.

Abstract: An apparatus for placing a fuel cell stack in a standby mode is provided. The apparatus comprises a compressor, a fuel cell stack, a cathode valve and a controller. The compressor is operably coupled to an air induction system for providing a cathode stream. The fuel cell stack provides electrical power to a load in response to the cathode stream. The cathode valve is operably coupled to an outlet of the fuel cell stack for controlling a flow of the cathode stream to the fuel cell stack. The controller is configured to receive a power request amount for the load and to compare the power request amount to a predetermined amount. The controller is further configured to control the compressor to operate at a minimum speed and the cathode valve to close in response to determining that the power request amount is similar to the predetermined amount.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to polyurethane foams having high air flow while maintaining viscoelastic properties. In one embodiment, a reaction system for preparation of a viscoelastic polyurethane foam is provided. The reaction system comprises (a) a polyisocyanate component and (b) an isocyanate reactive component. The isocyanate reactive component comprises (i) from 35 to 74% by weight of the isocyanate reactive component of one or more propylene oxide rich (PO-rich) polyols having a combined number average equivalent weight from 200 to 500, (ii) from 24 to 50% by weight of the isocyanate reactive component of one or more ethylene oxide rich (EO-rich) polyols having a combined number average equivalent weight from 200 to 2,800, and (iii) from 2 to 10% by weight of the isocyanate reactive component of one or more butylene oxide rich (BO-rich) polyethers having a number average equivalent weight of 2,000 or more.

Abstract: Methods and systems for adjusting a plurality of fuel injections supplied to a cylinder during a cycle of the cylinder are described. In one example, fuel amounts are adjusted in response to a biodiesel concentration in fuel supplied to an engine.

Abstract: A lighting apparatus for a vehicle includes a light source and a light pipe. The light pipe has a first end coupled with the light source, a second end, and a side surface extending between the first and second ends for radially emitting light. A carrier surrounds the side surface and includes an opaque portion and a translucent portion. The opaque portion abuts the side surface for preventing light from emitting beyond the side surface. The translucent portion extends adjacent to the opaque portion.

Abstract: Methods and systems for detecting a leak in a canister purge valve are disclosed. In one example approach, a method comprises indicating a leak in response to a temperature change in a fuel vapor canister coupled to a fuel tank in an emission control system while the engine is in operation and a purge valve is closed.

Abstract: An example for operating a spark ignition engine comprises discharging exhaust gases via an exhaust system comprising exhaust pipes from the at least two cylinders coming together to form an exhaust manifold; and initiating autoignition with exhaust gas from a first, exhaust-gas-supplying cylinder, which is discharged from the first cylinder into the exhaust system, the exhaust gas is introduced into an adjacent, exhaust-gas-receiving cylinder via the exhaust system. Exhaust gas from the first cylinder mixes with the air-fuel mixture of an adjacent cylinder raising the temperature therein. Under high loads the higher temperature and density of the aircharge is suitable to undergo autoignition.

Abstract: Novel catalyst compositions comprising three or more transition metals are effective in increasing catalyst efficiency, reducing polydispersity, and increasing uniformity in molecular weight distribution when used in olefin, and particularly, linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), polymerizations. The resulting polymers may be used to form differentiated products including, for example, films that may exhibit improved optical and mechanical properties.