Abstract: A vehicle includes at least one image capture device and a user display configured to display images receive from the at least one image capture device. The vehicle also includes a controller programmed to generate a user prompt to set a home vehicle position in response the vehicle entering a first parked state. The controller is also programmed to store at least one reference image indicative of an area in a vicinity of the vehicle corresponding to the home vehicle position. The controller is further programmed to collect a current image corresponding to a current vehicle position in response to a subsequent approach toward the vicinity, and compare the current image to the reference image. The controller is further programmed to generate a user display depicting the vicinity, the current vehicle position, and the home vehicle position.

Abstract: A lamination pack for a motor and method of forming the lamination pack is provided. The method includes inserting a plurality of conductor bars into a plurality of rotor slots defined by a lamination stack such that opposing bar ends of the conductor bars extend from opposing end faces of the lamination stack, skewing the lamination stack and the conductor bars to a skew angle relative to a rotation axis of the lamination stack, and subsequently bending the bar ends of the conductor bars in opposing radial directions to a locking angle greater than the skew angle, to lock each of the conductor bars in its respective rotor slot. The bent bar ends exert a compressive axial locking force on the lamination stack to prevent axial and radial movement of the laminations in the lamination stack and to prevent axial movement of the conductor bars relative to the lamination stack.

Abstract: A powertrain system includes a torque generating device to transfer torque to a driveline via a CVT, wherein the CVT includes a first pulley coupled to a second pulley via a flexible continuous device to transfer torque therebetween. A controller including a processor and memory is operatively connected to the CVT. The controller includes an instruction set that is executable to dynamically monitor operating parameters associated with an input force and an output force of the CVT and determine an amplitude variation of one of the operating parameters. The controller is disposed to detect an impending slip event based upon the amplitude variation, wherein the impending slip event is associated with a macro-slip condition on the flexible continuous device. Operation of the CVT is controlled to preclude the impending slip event.

Abstract: An electric power system includes a polyphase electric machine, battery pack, power inverter module, analog input sensor, and diagnostic controller executing a method. The sensor measures an electrical parameter that differs from a true value of the parameter by an initial offset value. The controller collects sample sets of the parameter, compares the initial offset of each sample to an outlier threshold in a first diagnostic loop, and transmits a bit flag indicative of an outlier sample to a slower second diagnostic loop when the initial offset of a sample exceeds the outlier threshold. The second control loop calculates a rolling average of the initial offsets of the sample sets, discards the set containing the outlier sample in response to the bit flag, and executes a control action when the average exceeds a threshold that is lower than the outlier threshold.

Abstract: A system and method for determining whether a driver is holding a vehicle steering wheel. The vehicle will include an electric power steering system and may further include autonomous or semi-autonomous driving features, such as Lane Centering Control or Lane Keeping Assist. The system includes a passive detection technique which monitors steering torque and steering angle, determines a resonant frequency of oscillation of the steering system from the measured data, and compares the resonant frequency to a known steering system natural frequency to make a hands-on/off determination. If the passive technique results are below a confidence threshold, then an active technique is employed which provides a steering angle perturbation and measures the frequency response, where the perturbation signal has characteristics which are prescribed based on the results of the passive technique. A steering torque greater than a threshold value is also an indication of the driver holding the steering wheel.

Abstract: A method for forming a corrosion-resistant catalyst for fuel cell catalyst layers is provided. The method includes a step of depositing a conformal Pt or platinum alloy thin layer on NbO2 substrate particles to form Pt-coated NbO2. The Pt-coated NbO2 particles are then incorporated into a fuel cell catalyst layer.

Abstract: An airflow outlet is provided. The airflow outlet comprises at least a first housing, a second housing, a first shut-off door, a second shut-off door, and a control apparatus. The first housing defines an outlet opening and the second housing defines an inlet opening. The first housing and the second housing are operatively coupled and define a substantially closed airflow path between the inlet opening and the outlet opening. The first shut-off door is coupled to the second housing and rotatable about a first axis. The second shut-off door is coupled to the second housing and rotatable about a second axis. The first shut-off door and the second shut-off door are operatively configured to meter a flow of air through the inlet opening by occupying a selectable operating position. The control apparatus is configured to control the selectable operating position of the first shut-off door and the second shut-off door.

Abstract: A system for optimizing life of a battery pack in a plug-in vehicle includes sensors for measuring battery performance data, including an open-circuit voltage, charging current, and/or temperature of the battery pack, a GPS receiver, a user interface, and a controller. The controller executes a method to monitor degradation of the battery pack using the performance data, and determines driving and charging histories for an operator of the vehicle using the measured battery performance data and a position signal from the GPS receiver. The histories identify the days, hours, and locations at which the operator has driven the vehicle and charged the battery pack. The controller identifies a state of charge data bin missing performance data or containing old performance data. The controller then controls a charging operation of the battery pack via a charging control signal, and records the measured battery performance data for the identified SOC data bin.

Abstract: A cargo management system for a cargo area at least partially defined between opposing sidewalls and a load floor of a vehicle includes at least one guide surface disposed proximate the load floor and a support structure adjustably connected to the at least one guide surface. The support structure includes a first post and a second post adjustable relative to the first post. A first translating member includes an upper portion pivotally connected to an upper end of the first post and a lower portion movably connected to a lower end of the second post. A second translating member includes an upper portion pivotally connected to an upper end of the second post and a lower portion movably connected to a lower end of the first post. The first and second translating members are adjustable between a first position and at least one second position.

Abstract: A method can be used for determining fuel consumption of an internal combustion engine of a vehicle, in real time. The method includes determining a fuel injection quantity of the internal combustion engine based on an oxygen concentration signal from an oxygen sensor and a MAF signal from a mass airflow (MAF) sensor. The MAF sensor is coupled to the intake line and is configured to measure and monitor the mass flow rate of intake air flowing through the intake line. The method further includes determining, via an engine control module (ECM), an instantaneous fuel flow of the internal combustion engine based on the fuel injection quantity. The method further includes communicating, via the ECM, the instantaneous fuel flow to a body control module (BCM) and determining, via the BCM, an average fuel economy of the internal combustion engine based on the fuel flow.

Abstract: A method for dynamically adjusting a battery current limit in a system having a battery pack includes determining a battery pack current as a charge current flowing into or a discharge current flowing from the battery pack, and also calculating a time-windowed average current for each of the charge current, the discharge current, and an RMS current of the battery pack. The battery current limit may be dynamically adjusted when any or all of the calculated time-windowed averages exceeds a corresponding calibrated control threshold. The battery current limit is a window-specific current limit that is greater than the calibrated control threshold and less than a static/fixed current limit for the battery pack. A system includes the battery pack, a sensor operable for measuring a current inflow/outflow to/from the battery pack, and a controller programmed to dynamically adjust the battery current limit using the above method.

Abstract: A sensing circuit, a vehicular battery pack using a sensing circuit, a method of protecting a circuit with a fuse and a method of providing battery power to a vehicle. The sensing circuit includes the fuse, which is made up of a main element and a sensing element such that the sensing element defines a pre-open detection capability through at least one of a dissimilar geometric profile or a different material choice from that of the main element. The sensing circuit also includes an electrical connector between one or more battery cells and an electronic control module so that the circuit provides indicia of the fusing event.

Abstract: An electrical system for use with an AC power supply having multiple phase voltages, e.g., three phase voltages, may include a high-voltage battery pack or other high-voltage DC device, a 12 VDC battery or other auxiliary-voltage DC device providing auxiliary power to the electrical system, multiple AC-DC converters, and a controller. The AC-DC converters each provide a DC output voltage to the high-voltage DC device, and are operable for converting a respective one of the phase voltages from the AC power supply into the DC output voltage. The controller selectively disables the AC-DC converters in response to a detected predetermined operating condition to thereby reduce consumption of the auxiliary power within the electrical system. A vehicle may include a high-voltage DC battery pack, an auxiliary-voltage DC battery providing auxiliary power, an onboard charging module, a charging port, an auxiliary power module, an electric machine, and a controller.

Abstract: Methods of repairing a manufacturing defect in a molded polymeric composite structure are provided. A polymeric patch may optionally be disposed over a defect on a first contoured surface of the molded polymeric composite structure having the defect. A heating element that defines a second contoured surface complementary with at least a portion of the first contoured surface is applied over the polymeric patch. The heating element includes an electrically conductive layer that includes a fabric and a thermoset polymer. The polymeric patch is heated with the heating element, where the heating element has a substantially uniform temperature across the second contoured surface so that the polymeric patch fills the defect. Methods of making the customized heating elements and the customized heating elements are also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed are fuel cell stack break-in procedures, conditioning systems for performing break-in procedures, and motor vehicles with a fuel cell stack conditioned in accordance with disclosed break-in procedures. A break-in method is disclosed for conditioning a membrane assembly of a fuel cell stack. The method includes transmitting humidified hydrogen to the anode of the membrane assembly, and transmitting deionized water to the cathode of the membrane assembly. An electric current and voltage cycle are applied across the fuel cell stack while the fuel cell stack is operated in a hydrogen pumping mode until the fuel cell stack is determined to operate at a predetermined threshold for a fuel cell stack voltage output capability. During hydrogen pumping, the membrane assembly oxidizes the humidified hydrogen, transports protons from the anode to the cathode across the proton conducting membrane, and regenerates the protons in the cathode through a hydrogen evolution reaction.

Abstract: A method of ultrasonically bonding a plurality of prismatic battery cell tabs to a bus bar within a battery section. The method includes arranging numerous prismatic battery cells such that cell tabs that extend from their lateral edge are substantially aligned along a stacking dimension defined within the battery section, and positioning a free end of at least one of the plurality of cell tabs in contact with a surface of the bus bar. The method is completed by contacting a bonding tool to no more than one surface of the positioned cell tab free end and ultrasonically bonding the positioned cell tab free end to a bus bar with the bonding tool. The one-sided bonding tool has a bonding tip cooperative with an ultrasonic excitation source.

Abstract: A system includes a rotary device, a vector-based position sensor outputting raw sine and cosine signals indicative of an angular position of the rotary device, and a controller. The controller executes a method by receiving the raw sine and cosine signals from the sensor, generating corrected sine and cosine signals by applying an amplitude error input signal to a first integrator block using a first predetermined trigonometric relationship, and executing a control action for the rotary device via output signals using the corrected signals. The first predetermined trigonometric relationship is SC2?CC2, with SC and CC being the respective corrected sine and cosine signals. The controller may use a second predetermined trigonometric relationship, SC·CC, to apply an orthogonality error input signal to a second integrator block.