Abstract: A vehicle seat retention system includes a vehicle seating assembly having a seat, which includes a seating surface and a seatback having seatback surface. A continuous peripheral rim is disposed on a first side, a second side, and a front of the vehicle seat, below the seating surface of the vehicle seating assembly. A first telescoping extension is disposed at a forward corner defined between the first side and the front of the vehicle seat. A second telescoping extension is disposed at a forward corner defined between the second side and the front of the vehicle seat. A deployable net is disposed between the seat and the peripheral rim. The deployable net is configured to be concealed within a seat base disposed below the seating surface.

Abstract: A center high mounted stop light assembly for use in a vehicle includes a stop light housing movable in a passage located center high on a rear end of the vehicle between a first closed position and a second extended position in which utility lights coupled to the stop light housing are deployable and operable to illuminate an area near the rear end of the vehicle. A position sensor detects and signals the position of the stop light housing within the passage. The stop light housing may be manually operated between the open and closed position or may use an automated device for push button operation including of the utility lights.

Abstract: A hybrid powertrain system includes a battery cell and at least one controller programmed to output an average internal resistance of the cell for a sliding window time period. A mean electrical impedance is calculated by the controller based on a quotient of a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) of a voltage output by the cell and a FFT of current input to the cell. An average internal resistance is calculated by the controller based on the mean electrical impedance. The controller may further control the cell according to the average internal resistance.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling a hybrid vehicle having an engine configured to automatically stop in response to an engine stop request and automatically start in response to an engine start request include selectively inhibiting an engine stop request based on an anticipated duration of an expected decreased driver power command state to reduce occurrence of successive automatic stops and automatic starts.

Abstract: The present invention in one or more embodiments provides a method of forming a polymeric skin of a vehicle interior part such as an instrument panel, the method including the steps of heating a molding cavity having a shape of the vehicle interior part, injecting a polymer into the molding cavity to form the polymeric skin, and cooling the molding cavity. The heating may be carried out prior to the injecting. The heating may overlap in time with the injecting. The cooling may be carried out subsequent to the injecting. The cooling may overlap in time with the injecting. The polymeric skin may then positioned next to a cushion layer which is in turn positioned next to a substrate layer to form the vehicle interior part.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for estimating a fuel canister purge flow based on outputs of an intake manifold oxygen sensor. For example, during boosted engine operation when exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) is flowing below a threshold and purge is enabled, purge flow may be estimated based on changes in the sensor output while modulating a canister purge valve between an open and closed position. Then, during subsequent operation wherein EGR and purge flow are enabled, the output of the sensor may be adjusted based on the estimated purge flow.

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 battery system includes a traction battery and at least one controller that implement a model of the traction battery. The system may monitor current input and voltage output of the traction battery. The at least one controller may inject a plurality of current signals into the battery when it detects the input current to be approximately zero and a corresponding terminal voltage to be generally constant. Each of the injected current signals has a discrete frequency. The controller may measure voltage responses to the injected currents indicative of impedances of the traction battery at the discrete frequencies. The controller may output parameters representing an equivalent circuit model of the traction battery based on the impedances, and operate the battery based on the parameters.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes a battery pack having one or more cells and a controller configured to continuously update battery model parameter values based on generalized linear regression analysis. The analysis updates the parameters using a dataset of independent variable vectors and a dependent variable vector constructed from a series of input currents to the battery pack and corresponding voltage responses of the battery pack that fall within a moving window.

Abstract: A vehicle seat comprising a seat base and seat back each including a spring structure, planar electro-active polymer actuators, each having a first state and coupled to one of the spring structures, a control in communication with the actuators and configured to deliver a predetermined electrical input to one or more of the actuators, wherein the predetermined electrical input deforms at least one of the actuators to a second state.

Abstract: Some vehicle maneuvers in a hybrid electric vehicle require a high discharge current from the battery. The capacity of a battery to supply a large discharge current depends on, among other things, the recent charge and discharge history. When the demand can be predicted in advance, the vehicle is operated to aggressively charge the battery during a time period close in time to the predicted event. As a result of this aggressive charging, the battery delivers more current to satisfy the power demand without allowing the terminal voltage to decrease below a minimum level than the battery would be capable of delivering at the same state of charge following a period of rest.

Abstract: A vehicle having an engine, an electric machine, a traction battery configured to supply power to the electric machine; and at least one controller is provided. The at least one controller is programmed to apply a filter to a requested engine power. The filter has a filter effect responsive to a difference between an actual and filtered driver demand such that the filter effect increases as the difference decreases to reduce rates of change in engine power output to satisfy the actual driver demand.

Abstract: According to one or more embodiments, a polymeric article includes a first polymeric layer defining a first portion and a second portion, the first portion having a first side and a second side opposing the first side, the first side being exposed to atmospheric air, and an ink layer and a second polymeric layer, the ink layer being positioned between the second polymeric layer and the second portion of the first polymeric layer.

Abstract: A method for a PFDI engine may comprise, during a first condition, comprising direct-injecting fuel to the PFDI engine, estimating a fuel vapor pressure, and setting a fuel lift pump pressure greater than the fuel vapor pressure by a threshold pressure difference, and during a second condition, comprising port-fuel-injecting fuel to the PFDI engine, setting a DI fuel pump command signal greater than a threshold DI fuel pump command signal without supplying fuel to a DI fuel rail.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a traction battery, an interface, and at least one processor configured to present, via the interface, a message including a charge-vehicle recommendation for at least one charge station within the drive range, in response to (i) a selected destination for the vehicle lacking a charge facility for the battery and being within a drive range of the vehicle and (ii) a charge station being within the drive range.

Abstract: An instrument panel subassembly for a motor vehicle has a cross beam providing a main structural support for the subassembly. An instrument panel substrate is mounted to the cross beam. A steering shaft assembly has an upper end with a swivel connection to the substrate and has a lower end for coupling to a steering gear assembly. A closeout trim panel comprising an elongated strip is mounted to the cross beam and has a snap-in retainer slot positioned to temporarily retain the steering shaft assembly prior to final coupling to the steering gear assembly at a substantially fixed position. The fixed position is spaced away from a final position of the steering shaft assembly when coupled to the steering gear assembly, and the retainer slot flexes to permit manual insertion and removal of the steering shaft assembly.

Abstract: A vehicle is provided with a powertrain including a battery-powered electric motor, an internal combustion engine, a transmission, and a powertrain controller. The controller is programmed to permit an upshift of a transmission gear ratio while a powertrain torque demand is less than a forecasted available powertrain torque sustainable over a predetermined upcoming duration of time. The controller is also programmed to inhibit an upshift while the torque demand exceeds the forecasted available powertrain torque to reduce successive gear shifts. The controller may be further programmed to, in response to battery a state of charge being less than a threshold, reduce the forecasted available powertrain torque by an amount sufficient to provide a recharge to a battery. The controller may be further still programmed to reduce the forecasted available powertrain torque by an amount sufficient to restart the engine while the powertrain is operating in an engine-off traction mode.

Abstract: A traction battery assembly includes a battery array with a plurality of stacked cells and a serpentine heat exchanger. The heat exchanger defines passageways for coolant to flow therethrough. The heat exchanger is interleaved with the cells such that opposite sides of each of the cells are in contact with the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A gasket for use with in an internal combustion engine having lubricating oil drainback passageways and an integrated exhaust manifold formed in the cylinder head is disclosed. The gasket includes at least one drainback passageway opening to fit substantially around the drainback passageways formed in the cylinder block. A loose component-capturing constraint feature is integrally formed with the gasket and effectively provides a bridge over the drainback passageway opening of the gasket. The constraint feature does not restrict the flow of lubricating oil and may be of any of several designs including, for example, a rib. The cylinder head gasket is preferably of a multi-layer construction and is preferably steel. The constraint feature may be a single gasket layer. The cylinder head gasket includes both active and non-active areas. The constraint feature may be either or both an active and a non-active area of the gasket.

Abstract: An illumination apparatus for a vehicle is disclosed. The illumination apparatus comprises a trim portion affixed to a surface comprising a first photoluminescent portion and at least one light source. The light source may be configured to emit a first emission at a first wavelength. The first emission may be configured to excite the first photoluminescent portion in a back-lit configuration. The trim portion is configured to mask the first photoluminescent portion from external light sources to prevent excitation of the first photoluminescent portion in the presence of external light sources.