Abstract: A transmission with a common carrier planetary gear set is provided for a vehicle that has drive axle half shafts defining an axis of rotation, an electric motor/generator with a motor shaft parallel with the axis of rotation, either concentric with the axis of rotation or spaced therefrom, and a differential with a differential carrier connected with the drive axle half shafts. The planetary gear set has a first sun gear member continuously or selectively connectable with the motor shaft, first and second pinion gears, a carrier member rotatably supporting the first and the second pinion gears so that the first pinion gear meshes with the first sun gear member, and a ring gear member meshing with one of the pinion gears. The ring gear is connectable to a non-rotating housing. The carrier member is operatively connected with the differential carrier.

Abstract: A powertrain includes an engine that has a crankshaft. A first motor-generator is drivingly connected to the crankshaft via an endless rotatable device. The powertrain includes a transmission that has a transmission input member driven by the crankshaft and a transmission output member. A front differential is operatively connected with front half shafts. A transfer case is configured to distribute torque of the transmission output member to the front differential and to a driveshaft. A rear differential is configured to transfer torque from the driveshaft to rear half shafts. A second motor-generator is drivingly connected to the rear differential. A gearing arrangement is configured to multiply torque from the second motor-generator to the rear half shafts. A controller controls the second motor-generator to function as a motor that provides torque to the rear wheels through the rear differential. A modular rear drive unit operatively connects to the vehicle body.

Abstract: A cooling system for a battery cell includes at least one plate having at least one key, and a heat sink having at least one slot formed therein. The at least one key of the at least one plate is disposed in the at least one slot. The at least one plate and the heat sink form an interference fit joint securing the at least one plate to the heat sink.

Abstract: A method of testing a pressurized liquid fluid for dissolved gasses includes evacuating both a first tank and a second tank. A test volume of a pressurized liquid fluid is introduced into the first tank. An initial absolute pressure in the second tank is sensed, and then fluid communication between the first tank and the second tank is opened to allow the pressurized fluid to flow from the first tank into the second tank, thereby de-pressurizing the fluid. The de-pressurized fluid in the second tank is maintained for a pre-defined out-gassing period, to allow any gasses in the de-pressurized fluid to separate from the de-pressurized fluid. A final absolute pressure in the second tank is sensed. A difference between the final absolute pressure and the initial absolute pressure is correlated to a volume of gasses released from the de-pressurized fluid.

Abstract: An energy-absorbing structure is provided. The energy-absorbing structure includes a first panel member and a second panel member coupled together. The first panel member has a first edge and a second edge opposite the first edge. The second panel member defines a first edge and a second edge opposite the first edge. The second panel member further defines a first deformable wall extending from the first edge thereof and away from the first panel member and a second deformable wall extending from the second edge thereof and away from the first panel member. The first deformable wall defines a first plurality of apertures and the second deformable wall defines a second plurality of apertures. The first and second plurality of apertures may be defined as one of an array of perforations and a plurality of slots. The energy-absorbing structure may be provided as a hood for a motor vehicle.

Abstract: The powertrain includes a sump and an electric motor-generator configured to convert electrical energy into mechanical energy. The electric motor-generator includes a stator and a rotor. The rotor includes a rotor shaft and is configured to rotate about a shaft axis relative to the stator. The powertrain further includes an output shaft rotatable about the shaft axis and extending through the rotor shaft along the shaft axis. The output shaft and the rotor shaft jointly define a substantially annular gap therebetween. The electric motor-generator also includes a motor housing covering the stator and the rotor. The motor housing defines a housing passageway in fluid communication with the sump and the substantially annular gap. The housing passageway includes a substantially involute shaped portion in order to facilitate flow of the cooling fluid from the sump to the substantially annular gap.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine is described in conjunction with a method for dynamically determining a mass flow rate of nitrogen oxides (NOx) for its exhaust gas feedstream. The method includes determining a present engine operating point and determining a reference NOx content for a reference engine operating point. A combustion chemical reaction rate is determined based upon the present engine operating point and the reference engine operating point. A NOx content in the exhaust gas feedstream is dynamically determined during operation of the internal combustion engine based upon the reference NOx content, the combustion chemical reaction rate and a combustion mixing rate constant.

Abstract: A heating system for optimizing execution of heating tasks in a fuel cell vehicle is disclosed, the system including a stack coolant loop with a fuel cell stack, a primary pump, and a radiator module. A bypass coolant loop is disposed parallel with and is connected to the stack coolant loop between the fuel cell stack and the radiator module. The bypass loop including a cabin heat exchanger and a coolant heater, along with a secondary pump for pumping coolant through the heaters when desired.

Abstract: A method for classifying a known object in a field of view of a digital camera includes developing a plurality of classifier feature vectors, each classifier feature vector associated with one of a plurality of facet viewing angles of the known object. The digital camera captures an image in a field of view including the known object and an image feature vector is generated based upon said captured image. The image feature vector is compared with each of the plurality of classifier feature vectors and one of the plurality of classifier feature vectors that most closely corresponds to the image feature vector is selected. A pose of the known object relative to the digital camera is determined based upon the selected classifier feature vector.

Abstract: A method for forming seals in a fuel cell stack includes a step of screen printing a first sealing layer on a first flow field plate. The first sealing layer defines a first pattern and has a first predetermined sealing layer thickness. A multilayer seal is formed by screen printing a second sealing layer over the first sealing layer. The second sealing layer defines a second pattern and has a second predetermined sealing layer thickness. A third sealing layer is screen printed over a first side of a second flow field plate and has a third predetermined sealing layer thickness. A fourth sealing layer is screen printed over a second side of the second flow field plate having a fourth predetermined sealing layer thickness. The first flow field plate and the second flow field plate are combined to form flow channels for guiding reactants a fuel cell catalyst layers.

Abstract: A power cut off device includes a case and an actuator disposed in the case. The actuator includes a driver movable relative to the case. Specifically, the driver can move relative to the case between a first driver position and a second driver position. The power cut off device also includes a cutter defining a conductor receiving opening. The cutter is movably disposed in the case. Consequently, the cutter can move relative to the case between a first cutter position and a second cutter position. The cutter is operatively coupled to the actuator such that the driver is configured to drive the cutter from the first cutter position to the second cutter position when the driver moves from the first driver position to the second driver position in order to cut an electrical conductor disposed in the conductor receiving opening.

Abstract: A system and method of retrieving a vehicle includes generating a path from a final destination to a starting position, receiving a command to retrieve the vehicle, and autonomously operating the vehicle along the path from the final vehicle destination to the starting vehicle position.

Abstract: A continuously variable automatic transmission having a direction selection mechanism with both friction and binary torque transmitting devices. The transmission includes a torque converter which drives a ring gear of a planetary gear assembly. The sun gear of the planetary assembly drives the input of a variable ratio device. In one embodiment, the friction brake is disposed between a planetary gear carrier and a stationary housing or ground and is engaged to provide reverse direction of travel. The binary clutch is disposed between the ring gear and the planet carrier and, when engaged, locks the planetary gear assembly and provides forward direction of travel. In other embodiments, a binary brake is disposed between the planetary gear carrier and the housing and is engaged to provide reverse travel and a friction clutch is disposed between the ring gear and the planet carrier and, when engaged, locks the planetary assembly and provides forward travel.

Abstract: A mobile communication system that includes a vehicle and a mobile device is provided. The method pertains to revoking communication control privileges of the mobile device previously authorized to control the vehicle. The method includes the steps of receiving a revocation request at the vehicle via a user interface device, the revocation request including a request to revoke the communication control privileges of the previously authorized mobile device, wherein the control privileges includes a capacity to remotely command at least one of a plurality of vehicle functions; and based on the revocation request, revoking at the vehicle the communication control privileges of the previously authorized mobile device.

Abstract: A method of encapsulating a thermoelectric device and its associated thermoelectric elements in an inert atmosphere and a thermoelectric device fabricated by such method are described. These thermoelectric devices may be intended for use under conditions which would otherwise promote oxidation of the thermoelectric elements. The capsule is formed by securing a suitably-sized thin-walled strip of oxidation-resistant metal to the ceramic substrates which support the thermoelectric elements. The thin-walled metal strip is positioned to enclose the edges of the thermoelectric device and is secured to the substrates using gap-filling materials. The strip, substrates and gap-filling materials cooperatively encapsulate the thermoelectric elements and exclude oxygen and water vapor from atmospheric air so that the elements may be maintained in an inert, non-oxidizing environment.

Abstract: A battery pack with a drain plug and a circuit to detect when a liquid coolant has entered the battery pack. A soluble plug may be disposed within the cavity of the carrier; the soluble plug is configured to at least partially dissolve when fluidly coupled with a coolant allowing a portion of the coolant to flow between the inlet and the outlet and out of the battery pack. A strain gauge cooperative with the carrier such that a measured resistance change in the strain gauge corresponds to the soluble plug in contact with the liquid coolant. An associated circuit with the drain plug provides notification of the activation of the drain plug to the on-board computer systems.

Abstract: A system includes a desired turbine power module and an engine actuator module. The desired turbine power module determines a desired amount of power at a turbine of a torque converter based on an accelerator pedal position and a vehicle speed. The torque converter transfers torque from an engine to a driveline and includes an impeller and the turbine. The impeller is connected to a crankshaft of the engine. The turbine is connected to a transmission in the driveline and is at least one of hydraulically coupled and mechanically coupled to the impeller. The engine actuator module controls an actuator of the engine based on the desired turbine power.

Abstract: A method of processing audio received at a plurality of microphones in a vehicle includes receiving the audio as a first audio stream and second audio stream at respective first and second microphones that are positioned at different locations within the vehicle; creating a first digital time series and a second digital time series that represent the first audio stream and the second audio stream, respectively; calculating a delay that exists between the first audio stream and the second audio stream based on a cross-correlation of the first digital time series and the second digital time series; and processing the received audio using the calculated delay.