Abstract: A hydraulic clutch system that enables automatic emergency braking (AEB) and remote start of a manual transmission vehicle. The hydraulic clutch system includes a piston-operated hydraulic cylinder or other accumulator to store a charge of hydraulic fluid that can be selectively routed to the clutch and discharged under electronic control to thereby disengage the clutch independently of any operator input via the clutch pedal. By doing so, the system can provide an improved AEB response that slows or stops the vehicle without stalling the engine. The system may also be used to provide remote start capability to the vehicle by automatically disengaging the clutch as part of a remote start sequence of operations.

Abstract: A method for controlling the powertrain system for a vehicle improves powertrain performance. The powertrain system includes an internal combustion engine comprising a crankshaft, an isolator assembly, a motor generator unit, and a powertrain control module. The isolator assembly includes a first member fixedly connected for common rotation with the crankshaft of the internal combustion engine and a second member. The motor generator unit includes a pulley coupled with the second member of the isolator assembly for torque transfer. The powertrain control module comprises a control logic sequence and controls the operation of the powertrain system.

Abstract: Methods for designing one or a pair of half plates of a fuel cell include providing a first half plate defining a first half plate metal bead, wherein the first half plate metal bead protrudes from the first half plate forming a convex side, providing a second half plate defining a second plate metal bead, wherein the second half plate metal bead protrudes from the second half plate forming a convex side, determining a pressure profile between the convex sides of the first half plate metal bead and the second half plate metal bead in a compressed state, and adjusting a height of the first half plate metal bead and/or the second half plate metal bead in one or more locations to increase the uniformity of the pressure profile. Increasing the uniformity of the pressure profile can include reducing a range of the plurality of pressure measurements.

Abstract: A torque converter assembly configured to be connected between an engine and a transmission in a vehicle. The torque converter assembly comprises a cover plate having a cover plate pilot portion, a pump, a turbine, a stator, and a clutch assembly operably connected between the cover plate and the turbine. The clutch assembly comprises a piston plate having a single clutch face and a piston pilot portion. The cover plate pilot portion and the piston pilot portion are both configured to be piloted by the engine. A pilot plate located between the cover plate and clutch assembly can help control the amount and/or velocity of fluid that hydrodynamically connects various portions of the torque converter assembly.

Abstract: A knitted seat trim cover for attachment to a vehicle seat includes a knitted trim panel configured to be installed over at least one foam support member of the vehicle seat and a fastener member integrally knitted in the knitted trim panel. The fastener member is configured to connect the knitted trim panel to the vehicle seat and at least a portion of the fastener member is made of a heat-activated yarn.

Abstract: A system providing an approach for catalytic converter warmup mode is applicable to multiple vehicle applications including hybrid vehicles. The system determines exhaust enthalpy during conditions including transient engine speed and transient engine load for a catalytic converter receiving exhaust output from an engine. Multiple exhaust parameter measurement devices each measure exhaust conditions entering the catalytic converter. A processor receives output from each of the exhaust parameter measurement devices and continuously calculates an enthalpy of the catalytic converter. The calculated enthalpy of the catalytic converter is repeatedly compared to a predetermined enthalpy threshold required to achieve catalytic light-off saved in a memory.

Abstract: A telematics module includes modems and a modem selecting module, which communicates with a network device according to a SCTP. The modem selecting module includes RAT network and signal status modules. The RAT network module determines a RAT network availability status of each of the modems. The signal status module determines signal quality status parameters of each of the modems. The modem selecting module: determines which one of the modems has a higher data throughput based on the RAT network availability status and the signal quality status parameters of each of the modems; sets the one of the modems with the higher data throughput as an active modem and sets another modem as inactive, such that the another modem is in at least one of a standby or backup mode; and communicates with the network device via the one of the modems according to the SCTP.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for controlling a vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes: determining, by a processor, road features of an upcoming road based on at least one of sensor data and map data; computing, by the processor, a required viewing angle of a sensor based on the road features; computing, by the processor, an operational envelope based on the required viewing angle and a sensor profile, wherein the operational envelope includes points along a map where the sensor can sense; and generating a control signal to disable autonomous control of the vehicle based on the operational envelope.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for assisted deceleration based trailer braking. The apparatus includes a trailer brake controller for applying a trailer brake in response to a brake control signal, a wheel speed sensor, an accelerometer for determining an acceleration, and a trailer controller for generating the brake control signal in response to a change in the acceleration indicating a negative value, the trailer controller further operative to couple the brake control signal to the trailer brake controller.

Abstract: In various embodiments, methods and systems are provided for controlling charging for a plurality of electric vehicles, each of the plurality of electric vehicles including a respective battery that is charged electrically via a respective charger. In one exemplary embodiment: (i) vehicle data, including respective charge statuses for the respective batteries of the plurality of electric vehicles, via sensors onboard the plurality of electric vehicles; (ii) charging station data, including respective availabilities for the plurality of charging stations, is obtained; (iii) the plurality of electric vehicles are each paired with respective charging stations, generated paired sets of electric vehicles and charging stations, based on the vehicle data and the charging station data, via a processor; and (iv) charging of respective batteries of the electric vehicles are controlled with the respective paired charging stations, via the processor.

Abstract: One general aspect includes a system for enhanced accent lighting within a vehicle interior, 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 following steps: capturing an image of a user; and producing accent lighting in the vehicle interior based on the image.

Abstract: In an example, a battery control system is disclosed. The battery control system can include a plurality of batteries, a first terminal, a second terminal, and a third terminal. The battery control system also includes a plurality of switches configured to connect a first battery of the plurality of batteries to and from the first terminal and the third terminal and to connect a second battery of the plurality of batteries to and from the second terminal and the third terminal. The battery control system also discloses a switch resistance modulation module configured to modulate a resistance of at least one switch of the plurality of switches between zero ohms and infinity ohms based on a battery parameter and a control signal.

Abstract: A processor-implemented path planning method in a vehicle is disclosed. The method includes retrieving road surface information along a planned path for the vehicle; constructing, by the processor, a model of the road surface along the planned path; identifying, by the processor, a road irregularity in the road surface for the planned path; classifying, by the processor, the road irregularity; projecting the location of vehicle tire patches on the model of the road surface; predicting, by the processor, vehicle sprung-mass dynamics as a function of time for the vehicle along the planned path; calculating a plurality of alternative path trajectories within the constraints of the road boundaries for avoiding the road irregularity; choosing an alternative path trajectory out of the plurality of alternative path trajectories that reduces the sprung-mass dynamics for the vehicle to provide a more comfortable ride; and updating the planned path with the chosen alternative path trajectory.

Abstract: Methods for determining an irregular fuel request (IFR) for vehicle engines coupled to driveshafts via clutched transmissions are provided and include: determining an idle condition of the engine, generating one or more fuel requests during the idle condition, and determining an IFR based on a clutch control parameter and a fuel request generated during the idle condition. The idle condition of the engine is determined based on a vehicle speed and an engine speed if the vehicle speed and engine speed are below respective thresholds. An IFR is determined if a fuel request falls outside a range, and/or if the clutch control parameter is such that the clutch does not substantially impart load to the engine. The idle fuel request range is determined based on a combustion mode of the engine and/or a gear state of the transmission. The method further includes implementing a control action after determining an IFR.

Abstract: A system and method to provide notification of a controller fault in a multi-controller system using a message authentication code (MAC) involve receiving, at a security peripheral, a fault notification from a monitor of a first controller of the multi-controller system indicating that the first controller is faulty. The method also includes receiving, at the security peripheral, a key index from the first, and providing, from the security peripheral, a faulty MAC to the first controller based on the fault notification. The faulty MAC is different than the first correct MAC indicated by the key index from the first controller. A second controller among the controllers of multi-controller system receives a message from the first controller that includes the faulty MAC. The second controller determines that the message from the first controller cannot be trusted based on the faulty MAC not matching the first correct MAC.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for preconditioning a rechargeable energy system (RESS) for a vehicle. The method includes monitoring one or more rechargeable energy storage system parameters; adjusting a rechargeable energy storage system precondition window based on one or more of the monitored rechargeable energy storage system parameters; and prompting for or activating thermal preconditioning of the rechargeable energy storage system at least partially depending on the adjusted rechargeable energy storage system precondition window.

Abstract: One general aspect includes a method to display information, the method including: receiving over a V2X channel, via a processor, media content related information from a vehicle; producing, via the processor, an advertisement based on the media content related information; and exhibiting, via the processor, the advertisement on a display positioned at a remote location visible to the vehicle.

Abstract: A system implemented in a vehicle, the system comprises a sensing module, a zone determination module, and an intent determination module. The sensing module is configured to sense a signal from a mobile device proximate to the vehicle. The zone determination module is configured to determine locations of the mobile device in a plurality of zones around the vehicle based on the signal. A sequence of the locations indicates movement of the mobile device in the plurality of zones. The intent determination module is configured to select weights according to a set of rules to apply to successive locations in the sequence, determine an intent indicator of whether a person carrying the mobile device intends to enter the vehicle by applying the selected weights to the successive locations in the sequence, and generate an output to perform one or more operations in the vehicle based on the intent indicator.

Abstract: Methods and systems for installing tires to corresponding wheels are disclosed. An example method includes measuring non-uniformity of a first assembled tire and wheel at three or more different relative rotational positions to determine corresponding measurements of non-uniformity according to a predetermined metric, and determining that each of the measurements are above a predetermined non-uniformity limit. A rotationally relative installation position for the tire on the wheel may be determined using at least these measurements, with the position of the tire relative to the wheel in the rotationally relative installation position being different from each of the first, second, and third relative rotational positions. In examples where at least a second tire/wheel combination is measured below the non-uniformity threshold, installation of the second tire/wheel may conclude at the position where the assembled tire/wheel is measured below the non-uniformity threshold.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle includes at least one actuator configured to control vehicle steering, at least one sensor configured to detect a profile of a driving surface proximate the vehicle, and at least one controller in communication with the actuator and the sensor. The controller is configured to identify a plurality of potential paths within a driveable lane, determine at least one road profile parameter for each respective potential path, identify a desired path based on a comparison of the respective road profile parameters for the plurality of potential paths, and control the actuator to steer the vehicle according to the desired path.