Abstract: A system and method for controlling an engine in a vehicle to facilitate heat transfer to a passenger compartment is provided. A number of conditions are examined, and if it is found that one or more of these conditions matches a corresponding predetermined condition, the spark timing of the engine is retarded. In addition, a charge motion control valve is opened, thereby increasing the amount, and reducing the turbulence, of the air entering the engine. This facilitates hotter combustion within the engine, and therefore faster heat transfer to the vehicle passenger compartment.

Abstract: A method of operating an internal combustion engine having a combustion chamber with a piston is disclosed. The method comprising during a first mode, adjusting an operating condition of the engine so that a first mixture of air and fuel in the combustion chamber attains an autoignition temperature and therefore combusts without performing a spark from the spark plug; and during a second mode, adjusting said operating condition of the engine so that a second mixture of air and fuel in the combustion chamber approaches, but does not achieve, said autoignition temperature; and performing a spark from the spark plug after top dead center of piston position so that said second mixture combusts.

Abstract: A system for a vehicle comprising of an engine including a first cylinder group and a second cylinder group; a linear exhaust gas sensor coupled exclusively to the first cylinder group; a switching exhaust gas sensor coupled exclusively to the second cylinder group; and a controller configured to operate the engine in at least a first mode and a second mode, where in the first mode the first and second cylinder groups combust air and fuel, where in the second mode at least one of the first and second cylinder groups combusts air and injected fuel and the other one of the first and second cylinder groups pumps air without injecting fuel, and where the controller is further configured to estimate torque of the engine in each of the first and second modes of operation based on the air-fuel ratio of the first cylinder group and the air-fuel ratio of the second cylinder group independent of the switching sensor and dependent on the linear sensor.

Abstract: A method for controlling at least an electrically actuated valve to operate in at least a cylinder of an internal combustion engine, the method comprising deactivating an electrically actuated valve in response to an operating condition of a vehicle electrical system, said electrically actuated valve deactivated in a desired position.

Abstract: An LED unit for a vehicle lamp assembly. The LED unit is comprised of a housing, one or more LEDs, a light pipe, and an optic structure. The housing contains the LEDs and has the light pipe extending therefrom. The light pipe is sized sufficiently narrow for extending through a hole formed in a base portion of the vehicle lamp assembly. The light pipe is attached to an optic structure. The vehicle lamp assembly transmits light in a unilateral direction distal to the housing through the light pipe and the optic structure. The optic structure scatters light in a series of directions distal to the housing.

Abstract: A state of charge control system and method uses a region of voltage linearity and a long-term average voltage to estimate an average battery state of charge for storage batteries and to eliminate errors due to hysteresis, drift and sensor noncompliance. An average state of charge Sn is calculated using a current integral method and an average state of charge Sv based on an average observed voltage Vn for a time period exceeding a predefined minimum time but before a predefined maximum time has elapsed is also calculated. If the absolute value of the difference between the Sv and Sn are not are within an acceptable error band, then an offset value is calculated to correct the Sn by subtracting the Sv from the Sn, and thus, to maintain a more accurate Sn. Additionally, a closed current integral method is used to reduce errors due to hysteresis.

Abstract: A control system (18) and method for an automotive vehicle (10) used for detecting lift of a wheel includes a speed sensor (20) coupled to the wheel producing a wheel speed signal and a torque control system (57) coupled to the wheel for generating an operating input torque to the wheel. A controller (26) is coupled to the torque control system (57) and the wheel speed sensor (20). The controller (26) determines a wheel response to the operating input torque and generates a wheel lift signal as a function of the operating input torque, the wheel speed signal and the wheel response.

Abstract: A head restraint system for an automotive vehicle seat includes a headrest carried upon eccentric mounting posts which may be extended telescopically from a seatback and rotated about their base axes so as to reposition the headrest not only vertically, but also horizontally. A sensor mounted in the headrest feeds back the location of an occupant's head to a system controller.

Abstract: A system for braking the wheels of a hydraulic hybrid vehicle includes a brake pedal having a range of pedal displacement including a deadband displacement range, an accumulator containing fluid at relatively high pressure, a reservoir containing fluid at lower pressure, a pump/motor having variable volumetric displacement connected to the accumulator and reservoir, and driveably connected to the wheels; a system responsive to brake pedal displacement in the deadband range for placing the pump/motor in a pump state wherein the pump/motor is driven by the wheels and pumps fluid from the reservoir to the accumulator; and a control valve for changing the volumetric displacement of the pump/motor in response to displacement of the brake pedal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting an improperly installed auxiliary child seat of the type that is secured in a motor vehicle by the seatbelt, and providing an alert to a vehicle operator in the case of improper installation. A seat occupancy sensor, a seatbelt buckle condition sensor, and a seatbelt tension sensor provides electrical signals to a child seat detection module, which determines that an improper installation condition exists if the auxiliary child seat is present and the seatbelt buckle is unfastened. The child seat detection module further determines an improper installation condition if the auxiliary child seat is present, the seatbelt buckle is fastened, and the seatbelt tautness is not within an acceptable range. If an improper installation condition is detected, the child seat detection module triggers an alerting device, such as a warning light on the instrument panel or audible chime.

Abstract: An adjustable camshaft system for an automotive engine includes a camshaft having machined and fabricated axially-directed control passages combined with an oil-activated camshaft phaser. The fabricated oil control passages are formed within a portion of the camshaft having an outside diameter which is substantially equal to the outside diameter of other portions of the camshaft fitted within bearings carried within the engine's cylinder head.

Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine. The method includes: providing a functional relationship between time rate of change in engine speed, and compression ratio switching engine speed limit; determining time rate of change in engine speed; determining from the determined rate of change of engine speed and the function whether the engine speed exceeds the compression ratio switching engine speed; and commanding the engine to operate at a relatively low compression ratio if the determined time of change in engine speed exceeds the compression ratio switching engine speed limit and commanding the engine to operate at a relatively high compression ratio if the determined time of change in engine speed is less than the compression ratio switching engine speed limit.

Abstract: A lock rod support member can be stowed within a support tube housed in the body of the pick-up truck on which a supplemental tailgate assembly to be deployable from the tailgate structure of the pick-up truck. The support tube for the lock rod can be mounted internally of the D-pillar of the pick-up truck body with the lock rod extendible therefrom, or mounted beneath the top rail of the pick-up truck bed from which the lock rod can be extended, for engagement with the deployed supplemental tailgate assembly. A stop bracket positioned at the end of the lock rod support tube engages and positions the formed distal end of the lock rod for appropriate positioning for engagement with the supplemental tailgate assembly. A spring latch mechanism is mounted on the opposing ends of the supplemental tailgate structure for clasping the insertion end of the lock rod members.

Abstract: The present invention involves an exhaust gas catalyst and method of manufacturing same. The invention provides for a cost-effective material which lowers the cold-start emissions from the exhaust of vehicles. The invention is a passive system which accelerates the light-off temperature of catalyst in a cost-effective fashion. The invention includes a method of manufacturing an exhaust gas catalyst capable of lowering cold-start emissions including the steps of providing an oxide mixture having praseodymium and cerium, doping about 0–10% weight zirconium and about 0–10% weight yttrium to the oxide mixture, adding about 0–2% weight metal including palladium, platinum, or rhodium to the oxide mixture, mixing gamma aluminum to the oxide mixture for washcoating and washcoating the oxide mixture onto a monolithic substrate.

Abstract: A system and method of controlling an automotive vehicle includes determining a steering wheel angle, determining a steering wheel direction, determining a steering wheel angular rate and applying brake-steer as a function of steering wheel angle, steering wheel angular rate and steering wheel direction.

Abstract: A chassis auxiliary-frame arrangement on a preferably self-supporting vehicle body is designed for improving the safety in a crash in such a manner that, in a frontal impact of the vehicle, the deformation zones of the vehicle body can be adequately and uniformly deformed without interference from the chassis auxiliary frame in order thereby to achieve a greater effective crash length of the deformation zones of the body. For this purpose, the chassis auxiliary-frame has devices for fastening it to the vehicle body, which devices, during a frontal impact of the vehicle, are completely detached above a certain degree of deformation of the deformation zones of the body, the chassis auxiliary-frame is therefore completely decoupled from the body and is pushed under the passenger cell 9 by means of a ramp.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for controlling an internal combustion engine in a vehicle powertrain. A filtered driver demand for torque at vehicle traction wheels is used to determine an engine torque command. The engine torque command is initialized to a percentage of a target engine torque as a function of variables that may include a smoothness factor.

Abstract: A method for controlling an engine having both an electronically controlled inlet device, such as an electronic throttle unite, and an electronically controlled outlet device, such as a variable cam timing system is disclosed. The method of the present invention achieves cylinder air charge control that is faster than possible by using an inlet device alone. In other words, the method of the present invention controls cylinder air charge faster than manifold dynamics by coordination of the inlet and outlet device. This improved control is used to improve various engine control functions.