Abstract: A method is provided for printing graphic designs in-line during manufacture of a vehicle. The method utilizes an ink jet printing system to apply graphic designs over an uncured base coat of paint on the vehicle surface followed by the application of a protective clear coat over the graphic design.

Abstract: An engine receiving boost from a supercharger and/or a turbocharger compressor is provided, along with methods for its operation. The engine may include inline cylinders arranged on an engine block and an integrated exhaust manifold (IEM), where exhaust flow from inner cylinders is kept separate from exhaust flow from outer cylinders within the IEM and where exhaust flow from the inner cylinders but not the outer cylinders flows through a turbine of the turbocharger. The supercharger and turbocharger compressor may be arranged in parallel upstream of an intake manifold of the engine, and throttles upstream of each of the supercharger and compressor may be controlled to direct intake air through one or both of the supercharger and the compressor based on engine operating conditions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a motor vehicle, in particular a hybrid automobile or electric vehicle, having a battery that is arranged between two wheelhouses An oblong protective element that resists buckling in the event of a compression load is provided between the wheelhouses in the region of the battery in the event of a side impact.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor is employed to determine a rotational velocity of an element by sensing frequency variations in a magnetic flux during rotation of the element. The magnetic field sensor includes a sensor face provided with obstacles, such as a series of spaced, substantially parallel grooves arranged perpendicular to a direction in which contamination tends to move across the face during operation of the sensor. The obstacles inhibit movement of contamination across the face such that the contamination does not cause false variations in the magnetic flux which would degrade sensor signals.

Abstract: A transmission gearing arrangement produces nine forward speed ratios and one reverse speed ratio by selective engagement of three shift elements in various combinations. Some embodiments includes four simple planetary gear sets and six shift elements of which two may be brakes. Other alternative embodiments may additionally include a third brake.

Abstract: Apparatus for a motor vehicle comprises a location monitor for determining vehicle coordinates for an instantaneous vehicle position within a predetermined reference system. A jurisdictional map database is provided for relating a plurality of jurisdictions to corresponding ranges of coordinates in the predetermined reference system. A regulation database is provided for relating a plurality of vehicle functions to corresponding parametric limitations for respective jurisdictions. A user interface is coupled to the regulation database for configuring at least one of the parametric limitations. A controller is coupled to the location monitor, the jurisdictional map database, and the regulation database for identifying a current jurisdiction in response to the vehicle coordinates, identifying at least one vehicle function having a parametric limitation for the current jurisdiction, and modifying the action of the identified vehicle function to comply with the respective parametric limitation.

Abstract: A hybrid electric vehicle includes an engine and an electric machine for providing propulsion forces to wheels of the vehicle. In an electric-only propulsion mode, the engine is disabled and the electric machine acts as the power source for the wheels. In a hybrid propulsion mode, the engine is activated to act as an additional power source for the wheels. At least one controller along with a plurality of sensors and positional information devices activate an active safety control signal in response to objects surrounding the vehicle that pose a threat to a potential collision event. In response to the active safety control signal, the engine can be either automatically started or stopped to provide additional available power or a reduced available power, respectively.

Abstract: Polyisocyanate-based polymers are formed by curing a reaction mixture containing at least one polyisocyanate and at least one isocyanate-reactive compound having at least two isocyanate-reactive groups in the presence of a zinc catalyst that contains at least one zinc atom associated with a polydentate ligand that contains at least one nitrogen-containing complexing site.

Abstract: A vehicle has front and rear seats and an air conditioning system. There is an auxiliary control accessible from the rear seat for adjusting the air conditioning system. A rear entry door has a child locked state and a child unlocked state. There is a lock control element accessible from the front seat for setting the child locked state. The lock control element is coupled to the air conditioning system for selectably defeating the auxiliary control. Thus, the activation by a driver/parent of a rear-door child protection door lock system is also used for locking out child access to a rear air conditioning unit.

Abstract: A vacuum pump connected to a unit where a low pressure is desired to be maintained, is adapted to reduce a rise in its temperature, during extended operations of the pump. A suction channel has a first end connected to a suction port of the pump and a second end connected to the unit. An aperture provided on the suction channel extends to a pre-determined depth with the channel. The aperture is plugged by a fusible material, or a material capable of subliming. As the temperature of the pump rises, the suction channel transfers heat to the plugging layer of the aperture, and the layer melts or sublimes gradually, with the temperature rise. Once the layer has completely melted or sublimed, the apertures aspirate ambient air from the surroundings into the pump, which cools the interior components of the pump, and quickly reduces the pump's temperature.

Abstract: A door trim assembly includes an armrest, a pull-cup unit, and an attachment structure. The attachment structure has a first portion with a first flange, a second portion with two second flanges on opposing sides of the first flange, and an attachment member engaged with the at least one first flange and the at least two second flanges. The first and second portions are respectively coupled to one each of the armrest and the pull-cup unit, which may prevent separation during and after a crash event.

Abstract: Embodiments for a turbocharged engine are provided. In one example, a method for operating a supercharged internal combustion engine including at least one exhaust-gas turbocharger which has a turbine arranged in an exhaust-gas discharge system and a compressor arranged in an intake system, comprises during a load increase ?pme, retarding ignition timing away from an ignition time ?Z,opt optimized with regard to efficiency and beyond an ignition time ?Z,knock, where ?Z,knock is an earliest ignition time to avoid knocking combustion.

Abstract: A battery electric vehicle life support system for a battery electric vehicle. The system may include at least one controller adapted to receive charging station location data; a vehicle battery interfacing with the at least one controller, the at least one controller adapted to receive state of charge data from the vehicle battery; and the at least one controller adapted to determine a probability that the vehicle will reach at least one battery charging station based on the state of charge data and the charging station location data. A battery electric vehicle life support method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A webbing exit protection boot for a webbing of a vehicle seat belt has an aperture for the webbing, a stiff lower part confining a lower section of the aperture at least in part and a flexible upper part confining an upper section of the aperture.

Abstract: A transmission gearing arrangements produces up to ten forward and one reverse speed ratios by selective engagement of various combinations of four shift elements. Each disclosed transmission includes four planetary gear sets and at least six shift elements. One of the shift elements may be a dog clutch. Optional passive one way brakes simplify the control.

Abstract: A vehicle door and handle assembly includes inner and outer panels defining an inner door cavity therebetween. A belt reinforcement is disposed within the inner door cavity and includes a generally upright body portion having an upper edge. A belt molding is partially disposed on the upper edge of the belt reinforcement. A casting bracket includes downwardly extending reinforcement members and a handle portion interconnecting opposite ends. Each reinforcement member includes upper and lower mounting features, wherein the upper mounting features are supported on the upper edge of the belt reinforcement and the lower mounting features are mounted on the body portion of the belt reinforcement. A cover substantially covers the casting bracket and is configured to align with the belt molding on the upper edge of the belt reinforcement to define an integrated belt molding at the door window belt.

Abstract: A method and system is provided to detect deformations on a sheet metal panel. The method includes swiping the sheet metal panel's surface through a screening material to screen the deformations present on the sheet metal panel's surface, thereby establishing screened deformations. Further, rubbing an area around the screened deformations through a stone material determines the size of the screened deformations. Finally, measuring the size of screened deformations according to a measuring rule establishes a nature of the screened deformation.

Abstract: Copolymers of propylene oxide and ethylene oxide have an inner block that contains from 65-90 weight percent oxyethylene units and from 10 to 35 weight percent oxypropylene units. This block has a molecular weight of from 150 to 350. The copolymer has an outer block which contains at least 95 weight % oxypropylene units and from 0 to 5% oxyethylene units. The equivalent weight of the copolymer is from 800 to 2000. The copolymers are useful in making polyurethane foams that have unexpectedly high tensile and/or tear strengths.

Abstract: A polypropylene containing resin composition suitable for use in forming films by the air quenched melt-blown film process for use as a sealing layer in a laminate for retort pouches, The resin composition includes from 80 to 98 percent by weight of a coupled impact propylene copolymer and from 2 to 20 percent by weight of a propylene-ethylene copolymer having from 2 to 10 percent by weight units derived from ethylene, wherein the composition has a melt flow rate of from 0.1 to 2.5 grams/10 minutes.

Abstract: Economic cruise control where a response of a cruise control system used to control a powertrain is determined based at least in part on whether a driver of a vehicle system has selected to manage cruise control according to performance or efficient cruise control strategies. The performance strategy corresponding with fulfilling a request to accelerate or otherwise increase energy demands less efficiently, and in some cases more quickly, than if the request were to be fulfilled with the efficient cruise control strategy.