Abstract: A method is provided for use in a vehicle. The vehicle includes a transmission, a turbocharger, a transmission control module (TCM), an engine, and an engine control module (ECM). The engine includes a crankshaft that rotates at an engine speed and the turbocharger includes a turbine that rotates at a turbine speed. The method includes requesting a downshift of the transmission from an off-going gear ratio to an on-coming gear ratio. The turbine is rotating at an off-going turbine speed at the off-going gear ratio and the turbine is configured to rotate at an on-coming turbine speed at the on-coming gear ratio, greater than the off-going gear speed. A determination is made that the requested downshift is a powerdown low-throttle shift. An engine speed request value is then transmitted from the TCM to the ECM. The transmitted engine speed request value is at least equal to the on-coming gear speed.

Abstract: A hybrid stamping system for forming a work-piece includes a stamping press. The press includes first and second dies that have respective first and second die bases formed from a first material. The system also includes first and second inlays. Each inlay is formed from a second material and has opposing die and work-piece sides. The second material hardness is greater than the first material hardness. The die side of the first inlay is cast into the first base and the work-piece side of the first inlay is contoured to form one side of the work-piece. The die side of the second inlay is cast into the second base and the work-piece side of the second inlay is contoured to form another side of the work-piece. The first and second dies are mounted in the press opposite one another to form the work-piece between the first and second inlays.

Abstract: A secure messaging communication system. A communication bus communicates messages between transmitting nodes. A secure hardware engine of a controller authenticates messages from requesting entities. A processor of the controller initially receives messages from the requesting entities. The processor includes a message request queue prioritizing received messages. The processor communicates a prioritized message from the request queue and associated authentication information to the secure hardware engine. The secure hardware engine authenticates the messages in response to receiving the prioritized messages and associated authentication information from the processor. The secure hardware engine communicates the authenticated messages to the processor for storage in a results queue.

Abstract: A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a storage capability module and at least one of an engine speed control module and a spark control module. The storage capability module determines a capability of a catalytic converter to store oxygen. The engine speed control module controls a speed of an engine based on the oxygen storage capability of the catalytic converter. The spark control module controls a spark timing of the engine based on the oxygen storage capability of the catalytic converter.

Abstract: An engine compartment assembly and a vehicle include an engine compartment. The engine compartment assembly and the vehicle also include an inlet configured to allow a flow of air into the engine compartment and an outlet configured to allow at least some of the flow of air out of the engine compartment. The engine compartment assembly and the vehicle further include a wall disposed closer to the outlet than the inlet. Generally, the wall extends in a manner to create an air dam which enhances the flow of air through at least part of the engine compartment. In certain embodiments, the wall extends outwardly from the belly pan away from the engine compartment to create a pressure reduction at the outlet which in turn enhances the flow of air through at least part of the engine compartment.

Abstract: An electric motor damping module includes an electric motor, a motor damper continuously interconnected with the electric motor, and an input member continuously interconnected with the motor damper. A transmission includes these elements, plus an output member, first, second, and third planetary gear sets each having first, second and third members, a first interconnecting member continuously interconnecting the third member of the first planetary gear set with the second member of the second planetary gear set, a second interconnecting member continuously interconnecting the second member of the first planetary gear set and the output member with the third member of the third planetary gear set, and a third interconnecting member continuously interconnecting the third member of the second planetary gear set with the second member of the third planetary gear set. The transmission also includes six torque transmitting mechanisms and a hydraulic pump. A sealing assembly is also provided.

Abstract: The present technology discloses a system, for joining workpieces using energy, such as ultrasonic energy, where the energy concentrates at a location within a weld area, promoting sequential melting of a plurality of energy directors. The system can be configured so that the sequential melting begins at the center of the weld area and progresses outwards. Sequential melting may occur through use of a welding tip configured to reduce air pockets, a tapering the height of a plurality of energy directors, and/or tapering the energy directors themselves, all of which reduce the size of an energy transfer area produced by thermal energy. The present technology also includes a method for joining workpieces using energy such as ultrasonic energy that concentrates at a location within a weld area causing sequential melting of a plurality of energy directors using the aforementioned features.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine fluidly coupled to an exhaust aftertreatment system includes a particulate filter device, a first selective catalytic reduction device disposed upstream relative to a second selective catalytic reduction device, and an injection system disposed to inject a reductant into the exhaust gas feedstream upstream relative to the first selective catalytic reduction device. A method for controlling the internal combustion engine includes monitoring engine operation, and determining an amount of particulate matter stored on the particulate filter based thereon. An amount of reductant stored on the second selective catalytic reduction device and operating conditions associated with the exhaust aftertreatment system are also determined.

Abstract: A vehicle charging station includes a track configured to extend across a plurality of vehicle parking spaces and a movable charging apparatus supported by the track. The movable charging apparatus is translatable along the track between the plurality of vehicle parking spaces to charge one or more vehicles. The movable charging apparatus includes a base slidably coupled with the track, an end effector in mechanical communication with the base and configured to electrically couple with an electric vehicle disposed within one of the plurality of vehicle parking spaces, and a power delivery circuit configured to receive an electrical charge from a power source and to controllably provide the electrical charge to the electric vehicle.

Abstract: A camera system includes a camera having a lens, and a wiper assembly attached to the camera and configured for removing a contaminant from the system. The assembly includes a housing including a frame having a back panel that defines a first viewport covering the lens; a shield; and a disc. The shield defines a second viewport spaced apart from the first and is attached to the frame to define a wash chamber between the shield and the frame. The disc is formed from a transparent material and is disposed between the shield and the housing within the chamber so as to cover the lens at the first viewport. The disc is rotatable within the chamber between a first position in which the contaminant is disposed on and partially obscures the disc, and a second position in which the contaminant is not disposed on the disc at the second viewport.

Abstract: A fresh air inlet system includes an inlet panel defining first windows and second windows, offset from the first windows. An inlet baffle is below the inlet panel and an outlet baffle is opposite the inlet panel from the inlet baffle. The outlet baffle at least partially defines an outlet plenum providing air-flow communication to an induction duct. A longitudinal flow section is defined between the inlet baffle and the inlet panel. A first vertical flow section is defined by the first windows and a second vertical flow section is defined by the second windows. The first vertical flow section is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal flow section and the second vertical flow section is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal flow section. Therefore, intake air flows successively from the longitudinal flow section to the first vertical flow section, to the second vertical flow section, and to the induction duct.

Abstract: An engine assembly includes a control module configured to receive a torque request and an engine configured to produce an output torque in response to the torque request. The control module includes a processor and tangible, non-transitory memory on which is recorded instructions for executing a method for supervisory model predictive control. The control module includes a multi-layered structure with an upper-level (“UL”) optimizer module configured to optimize at least one system-level objective and a lower-level (“LL”) tracking control module configured to maintain at least one tracking parameter. The multi-layered structure is characterized by a decoupled cost function such that the UL optimizer module minimizes an upper-level cost function (CFUL) and the LL tracking control module minimizes a lower-level cost function (CFLL). The system-level objective may include minimizing fuel consumption of the engine and the tracking parameter may include delivering the torque requested to engine.

Abstract: A window regulator includes a guide and an elongated carrier attached to the guide. A drive cable is driven by an actuator to move the carrier relative to the guide. A support cable includes a first end that is attached to a forward edge of a window opening of a door structure. The support cable includes a second end that is attached to a lower end of the guide. A first direction control device is attached to and rotatably supported by the carrier, proximate to a forward edge of the window opening. A second direction control device is attached to and rotatably supported by the carrier, and is disposed rearward of the first direction control device, between the first direction control device and the guide. The support cable is engaged with and guided by the first direction control device and the second direction control device.

Abstract: A waste heat accumulator/distributor system for use in a vehicle. The system includes an engine coolant loop directing engine coolant through a power plant, a powertrain electronics coolant loop directing electronics coolant through a powertrain electronics system; and a transmission fluid loop directing transmission fluid through a transmission. The system includes a multi-fluid heat exchanger including an engine coolant inlet receiving the engine coolant from the engine coolant loop, an electronics coolant inlet receiving the electronics coolant from the powertrain electronic coolant loop, and a transmission fluid inlet receiving the transmission fluid from the transmission fluid loop; a first valve controllable to cause engine coolant to flow into the engine coolant inlet or to bypass the engine coolant inlet; and a second valve controllable to cause electronics coolant to flow into the electronics coolant inlet or to bypass the electronics coolant inlet.

Abstract: A method of soldering a shape memory alloy (SMA) element to a component includes positioning a tinned end of the SMA element with respect to a surface of the component, and then directly soldering the tinned end to the surface using solder material having a low liquidus temperature of 500° F. or less when an oxide layer is not present on the SMA element. The end may be soldered using lead-based solder material at a higher temperature when an oxide layer is present. The end may be tinned with flux material containing phosphoric acid or tin fluoride prior to soldering the SMA element. The SMA element may be submersed in an acid bath to remove the oxide layer. The solder material may contain tin and silver, antimony, or zinc, or other materials sufficient for achieving the low liquidus temperature. Heat penetrating the SMA element is controlled to protect shape memory abilities.

Abstract: An electric machine assembly includes an electric machine having a stator configured to have a stator current and a controller configured to receive a torque command (T). The controller has a processor and tangible, non-transitory memory on which is recorded instructions for executing a method of modifying the stator current for enhanced flux weakening. The controller is programmed to obtain a base stator current [IdLU, IqLU] from a look-up table based at least partially on the torque command (T). The controller is programmed to obtain a characteristic angle (?i, i=1, 2, 3) based at least partially on a value of the torque command (T) and the base stator current [IdLU, IqLU]. A stator current modifier [?Id, ?Iq] is obtained based at least partially on the characteristic angle (?i, i=1, 2, 3) and a flux weakening factor (?IS) such that: ?Id=(?IS*cosine (?i)) and ?Iq=(?IS*sine (?i)).

Abstract: An engine assembly includes an oil pan including an oil pan body defining a cavity. The oil pan body includes a dividing wall separating the cavity into a first compartment and a second compartment. The dividing wall defines a compartment opening extending therethrough, and the compartment opening fluidly interconnects the first compartment and the second compartment. The engine assembly also includes an oil pump at least partially disposed inside the first compartment of the oil pan. The oil pump includes a pump pickup conduit in fluid communication with the first compartment. The engine assembly additionally includes a temperature sensor disposed inside the pump pickup conduit of the oil pump. The temperature sensor can measure the temperature of oil flowing into the oil pump. In other words, the temperature sensor can sense the temperature of the oil pumped in the engine.

Abstract: A method of controlling access at a vehicle to information communicated over a vehicle bus includes: storing one or more electronic control unit (ECU) identities in a central gateway module (CGM) that is communicatively linked with a vehicle bus; associating one or more message permissions for receiving messages via the vehicle bus with one of the ECU identities in the CGM that represents an ECU communicatively linked with the vehicle bus; wirelessly receiving a computer-readable instruction at the vehicle directing the CGM to change one or more message permissions associated with the ECU identity; and storing the changed message permissions in the CGM.