Abstract: A thermal control system includes a component having a surface. A plurality of thermal generating devices include a first conductive plate, second and third conductive plates, a first semiconductor device arranged between the first conductive plate and the second conductive plate, and a second semiconductor device arranged between the first conductive plate and the third conductive plate. The first semiconductor device and the second semiconductor device have different types of doping. First ones of the plurality of thermal generating devices are arranged with the first conductive plate located adjacent to the surface of the component. Second ones of the plurality of thermal generating devices are arranged with the second and third conductive plates located adjacent to the surface of the component. The first ones and the second ones of plurality of thermal generating devices perform heating and cooling of the surface, respectively.

Abstract: A cooling plate distributes a coolant for an electrical battery, and is defined by parallel first and second edges and parallel third and fourth edges. A coolant inlet is arranged at a junction between the first and fourth edges, and a coolant outlet arranged at a junction between the second and fourth edges. A first coolant channel is arranged along the first edge, in direct communication with the inlet, and a second coolant channel is arranged along the second edge, in direct communication with the outlet. First and second sets of coolant mini-channels are in direct communication with the second channel. A first coolant manifold, arranged proximate the third edge, is in direct communication with the first channel. A second coolant manifold, arranged proximate the fourth edge, is in direct communication with the inlet. The two manifolds are in communication with the outlet via the respective sets of mini-channels.

Abstract: Methods of making a composite article, such as a motor housing, are provided herein. The method can include applying a resin-fiber material to a shaped surface to form an intermediate article. The resin-fiber material includes an uncured resin composition and a fiber substrate material. The method further includes solidifying the uncured resin composition present in the intermediate article to form the composite article. Solidifying can be accomplished by applying heat to the intermediate article to initiate an exothermic reaction comprising polymerization, cross-linking, or both of the uncured resin composition. Application of the heat from the heat source can be ceased after initiation of the exothermic reaction, but polymerization, cross-linking or both of remaining uncured resin composition can continue in one or more of a radial, circumferential, or axial direction through a thickness of the resin-fiber material in the absence of heat from the heat source to form the composite article.

Abstract: Methods of making a composite article are provided herein. The method can include an unwinding step including unwinding a fiber substrate material from a creel at an unwinding velocity and an impregnation step including applying an uncured resin composition to the fiber substrate material to form a resin-fiber material. The method further includes a winding step comprising applying the resin-fiber material onto a shaped surface at a winding velocity and a solidifying step comprising applying heat to the resin-fiber material to initiate an exothermic reaction comprising polymerization, cross-linking, or both of the uncured resin composition. Temperature of the resin-fiber material can be monitored during operation of the method and a polymerization front velocity set point (vpfs) and an operating polymerization front velocity (vpfo) can be determined. Parameters can be adjusted to maintain a vpfo that is substantially the same as the vpfs. Systems for performing said methods are also provided.

Abstract: A digital key sharing system includes an electronic circuit and a first server computer. The electronic circuit is configured to store a plurality of digital keys, receive a plurality of key sharing requests, and generate a plurality of features in response to the plurality of key sharing requests. The first server computer is in wireless communication with the electronic circuit and is configured to generate an alert signal in response to finding one or more anomalies in the plurality of features to initiate a notification to a primary user device associated with the electronic circuit, and send a suspend notification signal to the electronic circuit in response to the finding of the one or more anomalies in the plurality of features. The electronic circuit is further configured to suspend use of the plurality of digital keys in response to reception of the suspend notification signal.

Abstract: A thermal barrier for use in a power module assembly having at least one battery cell and corresponding method of forming. The thermal barrier includes at least one compressible member having one or more pockets. A first layer and a second layer are positioned adjacent to the compressive member at a first side and a second side, respectively. The thermal barrier includes one or more phase change materials configured to be deposited into the pockets. The phase change materials are configured to undergo an endothermic phase change reaction when a temperature is at or above an activation temperature. The first layer and the second layer may be configured to at least partially reflect radiant heat. In one example, the phase change materials include a bicarbonate salt.

Abstract: A reinforced preform includes a sheet of reinforced material having opposed first and second edges, with each edge having a respective first connection point located therealong. The preform also includes first and second tethers, with each tether being attached at a respective first end thereof to a respective one of the first connection points and having a respective second end thereof terminating in at least one of: a respective loop tied at the respective second end, a respective knot tied at the respective second end, a respective graspable member to which the respective second end is connected, and an attachment to a respective second connection point located along a perimeter of the sheet. A method and mold for molding a reinforced preform are also disclosed.

Abstract: A mold for molding a reinforced preform having at least two apertures therein includes first and second mold halves arranged with their respective first and second molding surfaces facing each other. A first emitter is disposed in the first mold half and is configured to emit light therefrom. A first receiver is disposed in the second mold half and is configured to receive light from the first emitter and produce a first signal indicative of the light received from the first emitter. A second emitter is disposed in one of the first and second mold halves and is configured to emit light therefrom. A second receiver is disposed in the other of the first and second mold halves and is configured to receive light from the second emitter and produce a second signal indicative of the light received from the second emitter.

Abstract: A mobile computing device that provides location information through directional sound is described herein. The mobile computing device includes a location detection system that provides location signals corresponding to a user location and a destination location, such as a vehicle location or a vertex of a predefined travel route, to a spatial audio generation system to define a spatial audio signal based on a direction from the user location to the destination location. The spatial audio signal is provided to an audio device of the mobile computing device that outputs the spatial audio signal as directional sound having a locus at the destination location.

Abstract: During an example coating method, a metallic substrate is provided. A foundation coat precursor is applied on the metallic substrate. The foundation coat precursor includes a matrix and a plurality of capsules present in the matrix. Each capsule includes a shell and a healing agent surrounded by the shell. A basecoat precursor is applied, and a clearcoat precursor is applied. The metallic substrate, the foundation coat precursor, the basecoat precursor, and the clearcoat precursor are heated i) after each respective application or ii) simultaneously, in order to cure the foundation coat, basecoat, and clearcoat precursors and respectively form a foundation coat, a basecoat, and a clearcoat. The foundation coat is ultraviolet (UV) stable and bonds the metallic substrate to the basecoat and the clearcoat.

Abstract: One general aspect includes a method to provide a rear window wiper notification, the method including: when a rear window wiper is in an active state, via a processor, establishing a time duration; and when the rear window wiper remains in the active state throughout the time duration and after a conclusion of the time duration, via the processor, providing the rear window wiper notification in an interior cabin of a vehicle.

Abstract: A system and method to detect an object with a radar system involve transmitting two or more sets of linear frequency modulated signals with a gap duration Dg, during which there is no transmission, between each of the two or more sets of the linear frequency modulated signals. Each of the two or more sets of the linear frequency modulated signals defines a sub-frame, and two or more sub-frames defines a frame. The method includes receiving reflections resulting from the linear frequency modulated signals encountering one or more objects in a field of view of the radar system, and processing the reflections to identify the one or more objects. The processing includes performing an on-off Radon transform to correct a phase bias caused by the gap duration during which there is no transmission.

Abstract: A variable curvature wiper comprises a wiper arm with a first and second distal ends. The first distal end is pivotally supported on a pivot post. A flexible wiper blade has a first end, a second end and a mounting hub. The mounting hub is pivotally attached to the second distal end of the wiper arm. A first push rod includes a first end attached to the first end of the wiper blade and a second end attached to a push rod pivot point. The push rod pivot point is spaced from the pivot post axis. Pivotal motion of the wiper arm about the pivot post axis in a first direction causes the first push rod to push against the first end and flex the wiper blade. Pivotal motion of the wiper arm about the pivot post axis in a second direction causes the first push rod to pull the first end of the wiper blade back toward a flat position.

Abstract: One general aspect includes a system to detect a sufficient charging cable connection, the system including a memory configured to include one or more executable instructions and a processor configured to execute the executable instructions, where the executable instructions enable the processor to carry out the steps of: capturing an image of at least a portion of a vehicle body; determining whether the image includes a charging cable being sufficiently engaged with the portion of the vehicle body; and based on the determination of whether the image includes the charging cable being sufficiently connected to the portion of the vehicle body, producing a connection notification.

Abstract: An active quadrature generation circuit configured to provide an in-phase output signal and a quadrature output signal based on an input signal and a method of fabricating the active quadrature generation circuit on an integrated circuit are described. The circuit includes an input node to receive the input signal and a first transistor including a collector connected to a power supply pin. The circuit also includes a second transistor including a base connected to the power supply pin, the second transistor differing in size from the first transistor by a factor of K, wherein the in-phase output signal and the quadrature output signal are generated based on an inherent phase difference of 90 degrees between a current at a collector of the first transistor and a current at a base of the second transistor.

Abstract: Presented are intelligent non-autogenous metalworking systems and control logic for automated wire-to-beam alignment, methods for making/using such systems, and robot-borne laser welding/brazing heads with closed-loop control for real-time wire alignment. A method for controlling operation of a non-autogenous workpiece processing system includes a system controller receiving sensor signals from a position sensor indicative of a location of filler wire discharged into a joint region by a wire feeder. Using the received sensor signals, the controller determines a displacement between the wire location and a location of a beam emitted onto the joint region by a beam emitter. If the wire displacement is greater than a threshold wire displacement value, the controller responsively determines a corrective force calculated to reduce wire displacement to below the threshold wire displacement value.

Abstract: The present application relates to a method for performing off road adaptive cruise control in a host vehicle including controlling a vehicle speed at a first speed according to an adaptive cruise control algorithm, detecting an obstacle, using a sensor, within a host vehicle path, reducing the vehicle speed to a reduced speed in response to the detection of the obstacle, detecting a vehicle contact with the obstacle in response to a first inertial measurement unit measurement, applying a brake friction force and increasing an engine torque in response to detecting the vehicle contact with the obstacle, determining a traverse of the obstacle in response to a second inertial measurement unit measurement, and resuming the control of the vehicle speed at the first speed in response to the traverse of the obstacle.

Abstract: A method includes: (a) determining an engine speed of an internal combustion engine, wherein the internal combustion engine has an engine wall, and the engine wall has a wall temperature; (b) determining an engine load of the internal combustion engine; (c) determining a wall-reference temperature as a function of the engine load and the engine speed of the internal combustion engine; and (d) adjusting, using a cooling system, a volumetric flow rate of a coolant flowing through the internal combustion engine to maintain the wall temperature at the wall-reference temperature.

Abstract: Methods of attenuating vibration transfer to a body of a vehicle using a dynamic mass of the vehicle via minimizing a particular angular frequency of a wheel. One method includes receiving vehicle information over a time interval and determining, based on the vehicle information, an instantaneous angular velocity that corresponds to a particular angular frequency of the wheel. This method includes generating a gain-and-phase-compensated actuator drive command to counteract a vibration that occurs at the particular angular frequency of the wheel, which is based on the instantaneous angular velocity, and communicating the gain-and-phase-compensated actuator drive command to a hydraulic mount assembly that supports the dynamic mass. This method includes actuating an actuator of the hydraulic mount assembly in response to the gain-and-phase-compensated actuator drive command in order to minimize the vibration transfer to the body due to the vibration that occurs at the particular angular frequency of the wheel.

Abstract: The present application relates to a method and apparatus for determining a preferred off-road vehicle path including a lidar operative to generate a depth map of an off road surface, a camera for capturing an image of the off road surface, a processor operative to receive the depth map, determine a vehicle path in response to the depth map and a host vehicle characteristic, combine a graphical representation of the vehicle path with the image to generate an augmented image, and a display to display the augmented image to a host vehicle operator.