Abstract: A battery cell includes a pouch, an electrolyte material, positive and negative electrodes, and one or more heat conducting members. The pouch has an inner surface defining an internal volume, within which is contained the electrolyte material. The electrodes form current collectors that are positioned within the internal volume of the pouch. The electrode terminals are connected to a respective one of the positive and negative electrodes. Each heat conducting member is in thermal communication with a respective electrode terminal fully within the internal volume of the pouch, and extends between the electrodes and the inner surface of the pouch. The heat conducting members form a parallel heat transfer path within the battery cell. A battery pack includes a housing containing multiple such battery cells.

Abstract: A method for estimating battery power capability in a torque-generating system having a battery pack with battery cells includes calculating a voltage spread as a difference between an average and minimum cell voltage of the battery pack. The method also includes increasing a calibrated voltage control limit by an offset that is based on a magnitude of the voltage spread, doing so when the minimum cell voltage is less than the control limit, and recording the offset in a memory location referenced by pack operating conditions. Further, the power capability is estimated using the recorded offset when the battery pack operates under conditions that are the same as the operating conditions, and then executing a control action of the system using the estimated power capability. A torque-generating system includes the battery pack, an electric machine, and a controller programmed to execute the above-described method.

Abstract: A system and method of automatically establishing a secure wireless connection, the method comprising: transmitting a wireless signal indicating availability of a secured wireless service; receiving a request from a vehicle in response to the wireless signal; in response to receiving the request, sending a message via wireless communications to the vehicle, wherein the message includes encrypted access point credentials, and wherein the encrypted access point credentials are encrypted using a key; and establishing a secure wireless connection with the vehicle based on receipt of access point credentials in one or more messages sent from the vehicle.

Abstract: A method of making an aluminum alloy containing zirconium includes heating a first composition comprising aluminum to a first temperature of greater than or equal to about 580° C. to less than or equal to about 800° C. The method further includes adding a second composition including a copper-zirconium compound to the first composition to form a third composition. The copper-zirconium compound of the second composition has a molar composition of greater than or equal to about 41% zirconium to less than or equal to about 67% zirconium and a balance of copper. The method also includes solidifying the third composition at a cooling rate of greater than or equal to about 0.1° C./second to less than or equal to about 100° C./second to a second temperature less than or equal to a solidus temperature and decomposing the copper-zirconium compound at a third temperature of less than or equal to about 715° C.

Abstract: A variety of methods and arrangements are described for controlling transitions between firing fractions during skip fire or other dynamic firing level modulation operation of an engine. In general, actuator first transition strategies are described in which an actuator position (e.g., cam phase, TCC slip, etc.) is changed to, or close to a target position before a corresponding firing fraction change is implemented. When the actuator change associated with a desired firing fraction change is relatively large, the firing fraction change is divided into a series of two or more firing fraction change steps. A number of intermediate target selection schemes are described as well.

Abstract: A high performance electrode for an electrochemical cell including electroactive materials having a large charge capacity and that undergo substantial volumetric expansion and contraction during cycling of the electrochemical cell and a method for making the high performance electrode are provided. The electroactive material of the high performance electrode may have a thickness greater than or equal to about 1 ?m. Methods of forming the high performance electrodes includes patterning the electroactive material to form a plurality of void spaces using a high-speed process selected from the group consisting of: laser ablation, electron beam machining, ion beam milling, roll forming, embossing, lithography, and combinations thereof. The plurality of void spaces accommodates the volumetric expansion and contraction to minimize cracking and damage to the electrode during cycling of the electrochemical cell.

Abstract: A tooling pivot is configured to pivot and to hold a tool in a plurality of operating positions. The tooling pivot includes a bracket, a tooling plate, a motor, a brake, and a controller. The tooling plate is connected to the bracket, connectable to the tool, and rotatable. The motor is connected to the bracket and to the tooling plate and is configured to rotate the tooling plate to an operating position. The brake is connected to the bracket and is configured to hold the tooling plate in the operating position. The controller is connected to the motor and to the brake and is configured to control the motion and position of the tooling plate and to control the holding of the tooling plate. The brake is configured to release the tooling plate when the motor rotates the tooling plate to the operating position.

Abstract: An oil pan includes a pan structure forming a primary reservoir, and defining a PCV passage, and a PCV reservoir. The PCV passage includes an inlet for receiving fluid from a PCV drain of an engine block, and an outlet disposed vertically below the inlet of the PCV passage for discharging the fluid received from the PCV drain. The PCV reservoir includes a lower end disposed adjacent the outlet of the PCV passage, and an upper end disposed vertically above the lower end of the PCV reservoir and in fluid communication with the primary reservoir. The PCV passage and the PCV reservoir define a fluid flow path forming a fluid trap at the intersection of the outlet of the PCV passage and the lower end of the PCV reservoir, to keep the outlet of the PCV passage submerged during dynamic operation of the engine.

Abstract: An access control system for a vehicle includes a rear closure and a system that controls movement of the rear closure between closed and open positions. The control system including a controller and a wireless communication module having a wireless interface configured for short range wireless communication. The controller receives an actuation signal requesting transition of the rear closure to an open position from a mobile communication device carried by a vehicle user. The controller then determines when the user enters authentication and actuation zones proximate the vehicle via communication between the wireless communication module and a short range wireless communication device carried by the user. One the user is within the actuation zone, the controller generates a rear closure control signal configured to cause the rear closure to move from the closed position to the open position.

Abstract: A method of controlling positive and negative contactors in a high voltage electrical system includes sensing current flowing through each contactor prior to opening of the contactor and/or after closing of the contactor. A negative contactor weighted value is computed based at least partially on the sensed current flowing through the negative contactor during opening and/or closing. A positive contactor weighted value is computed based at least partially on the sensed current flowing through the positive contactor during opening and/or closing. The order of opening and/or closing of the contactors is determined utilizing at least one of the negative contactor weighted value and the positive contactor weighted value.

Abstract: Presented are expandable compartment cover assemblies for motor vehicles, methods for making and methods for using such cover assemblies, and motor vehicles with expandable tonneau cover assemblies. Presented, for example, is an expandable cover assembly for a motor vehicle with a cargo compartment. The expandable cover assembly includes a frame section that releasably attaches to the vehicle body, and extends across some or all of the cargo compartment. The frame section has a central aperture that extends therethrough. A canopy is seated within this central aperture and at least partially surrounded by the frame section. A flexible joint attaches the canopy to the frame section such that the canopy selectively transitions between a collapsed state, whereat the canopy is a first height from the compartment floor of the cargo compartment, and an expanded state, whereat the canopy is a second height, greater than the first height, from the compartment floor.

Abstract: A powertrain assembly includes a continuously variable transmission having a variator, an input member, an output member and a torque converter clutch. An input sensor configured to receive a signal from the input member. An output sensor is configured to receive a signal from the output member. The assembly includes a controller having a processor and tangible, non-transitory memory on which is recorded instructions for executing a method of controlling the continuously variable transmission. If the torque converter clutch is locked, the controller is programmed to obtain respective readings at predefined time intervals which are collected for the respective signals from the input sensor and the output sensor, until a predefined time window is reached. First and second fast Fourier transforms are obtained of the respective signals. The continuously variable transmission is controlled based at least partially on the first and second fast Fourier transforms.

Abstract: A light-emitting diode (LED) string includes an electrically conductive wire and a plurality of LEDs. The LEDs are electrically connected to the wire in series along an axial length of the wire. The LED string may include a solder layer, with the LEDs electrically connected to the wire via the solder layer. A tube having an optional phosphor coating may circumscribe the wire and LEDs. When connected to a surface, the LED string emits light in a band of at least 180 degrees with respect to the surface. A light assembly includes a first surface and a first LED string configured as set forth above. The light assembly may include a second LED string positioned with respect to the surface and having additional LEDs configured to illuminate in response to a second control signal from the controller.