Abstract: A latching mechanism releasably engages a striker. The latching mechanism includes a housing secured to the vehicle body, and defining a striker channel through which the striker is selectively movable along a striker path. The latching mechanism includes a release lever pivotally connected to the housing and configured to rotate in a first direction in response to a tensile force. A detent is pivotally connected to the housing and to the release lever, and is movable with lost motion relative to the release lever. A fork bolt is adjustably connected to the housing and movable between a fully latched position, where the fork bolt fixes the striker relative to the housing, and a secondary position, where the striker is movable relative to the housing. Moving the fork bolt from the secondary position to the fully latched position causes the lost motion between the detent and the release lever.

Abstract: A vehicle including an advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) and operator-adjustable devices is described. Controlling the vehicle includes identifying a vehicle operator, and capturing a plurality of operator-selectable settings associated with the plurality of operator-adjustable devices for the vehicle operator. A base profile and a second profile are determined for the vehicle operator based upon the first subset associated with non-autonomous operation of the vehicle and the second subset associated with ADAS, respectively. The plurality of operator-adjustable devices are controlled to the operator-selectable settings associated with the base profile when the vehicle is operating in the non-autonomous mode, and the plurality of operator-adjustable devices are controlled to the operator-selectable settings associated with the second profile when the vehicle is being controlled at least in part by one or more of the subsystems of the ADAS.

Abstract: The present application relates to a method and apparatus including a sensor for detecting a first acceleration of a target vehicle at a first time and a second acceleration of the target vehicle at a second time, a processor operative to calculate an increased distance in response to the first acceleration and the second acceleration exceeding an acceleration threshold, the processor further operative to generate a control signal indicative of the increased distance, and a vehicle controller for controlling a vehicle throttle controller and a vehicle steering controller to maintain an initial distance between the host vehicle and the target vehicle and to maintain the increased distance between the host vehicle and the target vehicle in response to the control signal.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for automatically selecting and deploying a vehicle sunshade in response to vehicle orientation and sun position to reduce vehicle cabin thermal buildup. The apparatus includes a light sensor operative to measure a light intensity, a first sunshade operative to selectively provide a first light reflective surface proximate to a first glass surface wherein the first vehicle glass surface has a first orientation, a second sunshade operative to selectively provide a second light reflective surface to a second glass surface wherein the second vehicle glass surface has a second orientation, and a processor operative to determine a vehicle orientation and a sun location in response to the vehicle orientation and to engage first sunshade in response to the sun location and the first orientation such that the first sunshade is operative to reflect light transmission through the first vehicle glass.

Abstract: A radar circuit for use with a host system such as a vehicle includes a radio frequency (RF) signal generator configured to generate a predetermined RF waveform, an RF antenna connected to the RF signal generator, and an ECU which executes a method. As part of such a method, a signal generator transmits the RF waveform toward different radar target types, and receives return signatures reflected therefrom. The ECU receives the return signatures from the antenna, processes the return signatures via parallel constant false-alarm rate (CFAR) subdetectors each with defined cells under test to detect the target types as a set of detection events, merges the detection events into a merged set, and executes a control action aboard the host system responsive to the merged set. Each subdetector detects a corresponding one or more of the radar target types via corresponding detection parameters.

Abstract: A ceramic-coated separator for a lithium-containing electrochemical cell and methods of preparing the ceramic-coated separator are provided. The ceramic-coated separator may be manufactured by preparing a slurry that includes one or more lithiated oxides and a binder and disposing the slurry onto one or more surfaces of a porous substrate. The slurry may be dried to from a ceramic coating on the one or more surfaces of the porous substrate so as to create the ceramic-coated separator. The ceramic coating may include one or more lithiated oxides selected from Li2SiO3, LiAlO2, Li2TiO3, LiNbO3, Li3PO4, Li2CrO4, and Li2Cr2O7.

Abstract: An accessory assembly for a bumper region of a vehicle includes a support disposed in the bumper region, and an accessory mounted to the support. The accessory is accessible from the bumper region. The accessory assembly includes a cover attached to the accessory to conceal the accessory in a use position, and the cover is detachable from the accessory to provide access to the accessory in a removed position. A vehicle bumper accessory assembly includes a bumper defining an accessory region, and the support disposed in the accessory region of the bumper. The vehicle bumper accessory assembly includes the accessory that is accessible outside of the bumper. The vehicle bumper accessory assembly includes the cover attached to the accessory to conceal the accessory when the accessory is not in use, and the cover is detachable from the accessory to provide access to use the accessory.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for active vehicle cabin occupant detection system. The method includes predicting the presence of a vehicle occupant during operation of a vehicle in response to a door sensor indicative of a door opening, a carbon dioxide level and a pressure sensor in a passenger seat indicative of the vehicle occupant in the passenger seat, detecting the presence of the vehicle occupant using a vehicle cabin motion detector in response to the vehicle being shutdown, confirming the presence of the vehicle occupant using an infrared camera to detect a thermal signature of the vehicle occupant in response to the predicted presence of the vehicle occupant, and transmitting an alert via a wireless transmitter indicative of the presence of the vehicle occupant.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for active vehicle cabin occupant protection system. The method includes detecting a vehicle cabin temperature using a cabin thermal sensor, engaging a vehicle fan and opening a vehicle outside air ventilation duct in response to the vehicle cabin temperature exceeding a first threshold temperature, and starting a vehicle engine and engaging a vehicle air conditioning system in response to the vehicle cabin temperature exceeding a second threshold temperature wherein the second threshold temperature is greater than the first threshold temperature.

Abstract: A system for a seat of a vehicle includes a seat cushion, a seat cover, and a valve. The seat cushion forms at least part of a bottom of the seat. The seat cover encloses the seat cushion and forming a barrier to airflow out of the seat cushion. The seat cover forms a top surface of the seat bottom, a bottom surface of the seat bottom, and side surfaces of the seat bottom. The valve extends through the seat cover and is configured to regulate airflow out of the seat cushion through the valve.

Abstract: A method of locking a plurality of doors of a vehicle includes sensing a deceleration event with an accelerometer of the vehicle in which a deceleration of the vehicle is greater than or equal to a threshold deceleration. After sensing, the method includes deploying a supplementary inflatable restraint of the vehicle and, substantially concurrent to deploying, locking each of the plurality of doors.

Abstract: A method of deactivating a secondary lock feature of a vehicle includes sensing a movement of an interior door handle, and determining a status of the secondary lock feature to ascertain whether the secondary lock feature is active. The method includes starting a timer to measure an elapsed time since sensing the movement of the interior door handle, sensing an environmental condition of an interior passenger compartment of the vehicle with a sensor, and setting an unlock delay time based on the environmental condition. When the secondary lock feature is disposed in an active state and the elapsed time period is greater than or equal to the unlock delay time, the method includes automatically generating a control signal to thereby deactivate the secondary lock feature.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for detecting and assigning objects to sensed values. An object detection arrangement includes a processor that is programmed to execute a first branch of instructions and a second branch of instructions. Each branch of instructions includes receiving a modality from at least one sensor of a group of sensors via a respective interface and determining an output value based on the modality. The object detection arrangement includes an association distance matrix. Modalities of different branches of instructions define different modalities of an object external to the object detection arrangement. The object detection arrangement cumulates the output values, and the association distance matrix associates an object to the cumulated output values to thereby detect and track the object external to the object detection arrangement.

Abstract: A coulomb friction damped drive shaft may include an outer shaft defined by a longitudinal axis, a first tapered portion and a second tapered portion at opposite ends of the outer shaft; an inner shaft inserted through the outer shaft along the longitudinal axis and defined by a first uniform portion a second uniform portion adjacent to opposite ends of the inner shaft; a first tapered sleeve inserted between the first uniform portion and the first tapered portion; and a second tapered sleeve inserted between the second uniform portion and the second tapered portion. The first tapered sleeve may be biased along the longitudinal axis toward the second tapered sleeve to create a friction between the inner shaft and the outer shaft. The friction may act on a twisting motion of the inner shaft relative to the outer shaft to coulomb friction dampen oscillations in the inner shaft.

Abstract: A system for sealed venting of a compartment includes a sealing member having a first body portion and a second body portion, an inner sealing member surface defining a central passage passing longitudinally from a first terminal end of the sealing member to a second terminal end of the sealing member, an outer sealing member surface defining an outer circumference of the sealing member, a sealing flange extending radially outward from the outer sealing member surface, and a channel including at least one stop surface. A securing member having a securing flange engages with the second body portion. The channel engages with the aperture defined in the body when the sealing member is inserted into and rotated in the aperture and the sealing flange and the securing flange seal the sealing member to the inner and outer surfaces of the body.

Abstract: A powertrain system configured to transfer torque to a driveline is described, and includes an internal combustion engine, a torque converter, a transmission, an electric machine, and a controller. The engine is configured to operate in one of an all-cylinder mode and a dynamic deactivation mode to generate an engine torque. The electric machine is configured to generate a motor torque. The motor torque and the engine torque combine to generate an output torque that is transferable to the driveline and is responsive to an output torque request. The controller is in communication with the engine, the torque converter, the transmission, and the electric machine. The controller includes an instruction set that is executable to operate the engine in the dynamic deactivation mode to generate engine torque, and operate the electric machine to generate motor torque to supplement the engine torque to generate the output torque.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for locating and calibrating a physical control for use with a graphical user interface. The apparatus includes a display operative to display a placement indicator and a user interface, a sensor operative to determine a placement location of a physical control, and a processor operative to generate the placement indicator, to receive the placement location and to determine an offset between the placement indicator and the placement location, the processor being further operative to generate the user interface in response to the offset and to couple the user interface to the display.

Abstract: Presented are model predictive control (MPC) systems, methods, and devices for regulating operation of hybrid powertrains. A method of controlling a hybrid powertrain includes a controller determining path plan data, including a vehicle origin, destination, and predicted path. Based on this path plan data, the controller estimates vehicle velocities for multiple rolling road segments of the predicted path and, based on the estimated velocities, determines an estimated power request—transmission input torque and/or vehicle axle torque—for each road segment. The controller calculates a minimum cost function such that total fuel consumption to generate the engine power output is minimized. Minimizing the cost function is subject to battery pack current limits and state of charge (SOC) terminal costs at the ends of the rolling road segments. Command signals are sent to the engine and motor to output engine and motor torque based on the calculated minimum cost function.

Abstract: A control-linkage assembly for a differential of a vehicle includes a differential housing and a linkage apparatus. The differential housing includes sides spaced from each other relative to a lateral axis. The sides each define a respective hole along the lateral axis. The differential housing includes a front end and a rear end spaced from each other relative to a central axis. The differential housing includes a support at the front end. The linkage apparatus is coupled to the support to control motion of the differential housing. An axle assembly for a vehicle includes an axle housing and the control-linkage assembly coupled to the axle housing. The control-linkage assembly includes the differential housing and the linkage apparatus as discussed above. The differential housing is fixed to the axle housing to form a unit. The linkage apparatus is coupled to the support to control motion of the unit.

Abstract: A method for controlling a process for manufacturing a bevel gear includes forming, via a first process, a ring gear and determining a first set of parameters associated with the ring gear, and forming, via a second process, the pinion gear, and determining a second set of parameters associated with the pinion gear. The ring gear and the pinion gear are paired, and a single-flank test is executed on the paired ring gear and pinion gear to determine a third set of parameters. The paired ring gear and pinion gear are assembled into a final assembly, and an end-of-line noise/vibration analysis of the final assembly is executed. The noise/vibration analysis, the first set of parameters, the second set of parameters, and the third set of parameters are evaluated, and one of the first process, the second process, the pairing process, and the assembly process are adjusted based thereon.