Abstract: A method for detecting a sensor that is stuck in range includes computing a variation value for each of a first signal and a second signal generated by a respective first and second sensor, wherein the first and second signals are correlated signals. The variation value for each of the first and second signals is computed for the same diagnostic period, such that when one of the first and second sensors is generating a signal which is stuck in range during the diagnostic period, the signal stuck in range will be characterized by a variation value which is much less than the variation value of the correlated signal. The magnitude of difference between the variation values of the first and second signals can be compared to a predetermined fault threshold to diagnose a sensor stuck in range.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for controlling a park mode in a motor vehicle that includes a powertrain with a powerplant. The method includes identifying whether the vehicle is stopped. The method also includes identifying whether the powerplant is operating or is turned off. The method additionally includes identifying whether an operator of the vehicle is present inside or has vacated the vehicle. The method also includes commanding automatic selection of the park mode if the powerplant is turned off. Furthermore, the method includes commanding automatic selection of the park mode if the operator has vacated the vehicle, whether the powerplant is turned on and operating, or is turned off. The powertrain may include an automatic transmission operatively connected to the powerplant, and the park mode can be affected inside the transmission. A system for controlling such a powertrain via a controller programmed to execute the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: One variation may include a product comprising: an integrated electric bicycle motor comprising: an inrunner ring motor, a rotor mount coupled to the inside of the inrunner ring motor, and at least one battery assembly coupled to the rotor mount.

Abstract: A method for characterizing a stiction condition in a manual steering gear includes transmitting a steering input control signal to a rotary actuator, and rotating a steering shaft with constant acceleration, via the rotary actuator, in response to the steering input control signal. A steering output torque is determined while rotating the steering shaft with the constant acceleration, receiving the steering output torque via the controller, and executing a control action when a rate of the received steering output torque exceeds a threshold rate indicative of the stiction condition. A system includes a rotary actuator, a manual steering gear having a steering shaft connected to the rotary actuator, a torque transducer for measuring a steering output torque imparted to the steering shaft by the actuator, and a controller programmed as set forth above.

Abstract: A wiper system wiper system for wiping a window is provided. The wiper system has an arm head and an arm retainer connected to the arm head via a pivot. The wiper system includes a latch for controlling pivoting of the arm retainer with respect to the arm head. The latch is configured to restrict pivoting of the arm retainer with respect to the arm head to an operating range close to the window when the latch is in a latched state. The latch is further configured to allow pivoting of the arm retainer with respect to the arm head from the operating range to a servicing position away from the window when the latch is in an unlatched state.

Abstract: A model predictive control (MPC) module performs multiple iterations to determine a current set of target values for an engine based on a torque request, a model of the engine, a tableau matrix, and a basic solution matrix. Each of the iterations includes: determining whether the basic solution matrix is not in standard form; when the basic solution matrix is not in standard form, identifying a first column of the tableau matrix based on a first entry position of the primal variable of the non-basic pair; when the basic solution matrix is in standard form and one or more primal variables of the basic solution matrix are negative, identifying the first column of the tableau matrix based on a second entry position of a dual variable of the basic pair; and selectively updating the basic solution matrix based on the first column of the tableau matrix.

Abstract: A system includes a host machine and a status projector. The host machine is in electrical communication with a collection of sensors and with a welding controller that generates control signals for controlling the welding horn. The host machine is configured to execute a method to thereby process the sensory and control signals, as well as predict a quality status of a weld that is formed using the welding horn, including identifying any suspect welds. The host machine then activates the status projector to illuminate the suspect welds. This may occur directly on the welds using a laser projector, or on a surface of the work piece in proximity to the welds. The system and method may be used in the ultrasonic welding of battery tabs of a multi-cell battery pack in a particular embodiment. The welding horn and welding controller may also be part of the system.

Abstract: A single-shaft dual expansion internal combustion engine is described, and includes an engine block including first and second power cylinders and an expander cylinder fluidly coupled through a cylinder head, and first and second power pistons that connect to respective first and second crankpins of the crankshaft. A multi-link connecting rod assembly includes a rigid main arm extending orthogonally to a longitudinal axis of the crankshaft and supporting a first pivot pin, a second pivot pin and a third pivot pin. The first pivot pin connects via a connecting rod to an expander piston reciprocating in the third cylinder. A third crankpin of the crankshaft serves as the second pivot pin and has a throw that is located 180 degrees of rotation of the crankshaft from a throw of the first crankpin. The third pivot pin connects to a swing arm connected to the engine block.

Abstract: A hands-free audio system for a vehicle and method of using the system is described. The method includes controlling the directionality of a vehicle microphone. The steps of the method may include: (a) receiving a sensor value from at least one of a vehicle seat position sensor, a vehicle seat orientation sensor, or a vehicle mirror orientation sensor; (b) based on the received sensor value(s) of step (a), determining an origin of a vehicle user's speech; and (c) controlling the microphone sensitivity directionality based on the determined origin.

Abstract: A first target module determines a first target output pressure of an engine oil pump based on a speed of the engine oil pump and an oil temperature. A second target module, based on a runtime period of an engine, sets a second target output pressure of the engine oil pump to one of greater than and equal to the first target output pressure. A third target module, based on an engine load, sets a third target output pressure of the engine oil pump to one of greater than and equal to the first target output pressure. A selection module selects one of the second and third target output pressures, sets a selected target output pressure based on the selected one of the second and third target output pressures, and controls displacement of the engine oil pump based on the selected target output pressure.

Abstract: A method and system for determining whether a driver of a vehicle is in contact with a steering wheel of the vehicle is provided. One embodiment of the method includes the steps of generating a perturbation signal that causes vibration of the steering wheel and receiving a steering signal from a steering system sensor configured to provide an indication of at least one of a steering torque and a steering movement of a component of an electronic power steering system of the vehicle. The method further includes the steps of mixing the perturbation signal and the steering signal to produce a heterodyne signal and generating a driver contact signal indicative of whether the driver of the vehicle is in contact with the steering wheel of the vehicle, the value of the driver contact signal dependent on characteristics of the heterodyne signal relating to the perturbation signal.

Abstract: A cellular radio architecture that includes a programmable bandpass sampling radio frequency front-end and an optimized digital baseband. The architecture includes a multiplexer having signal paths that include a bandpass filter that passes a different frequency band than the other bandpass filters and a circulator that provides signal isolation between the transmit signals and the receive signals. The architecture also includes a receiver module having a separate signal channel for each of the signal paths in the multiplexer, where each signal channel in the receiver module includes a receiver delta-sigma modulator that converts analog receive signals to a representative digital signal. The architecture further includes a transmitter module having a transmitter delta-sigma modulator for converting digital data bits to analog transmit signals, where the transmitter module includes a power amplifier and a switch for directing the transmit signals to one of the signal paths in the multiplexer.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling movement of an actuator fork of a transmission through a pre-synchronization phase of a synchronization event at a pre-synchronization fork velocity includes adjusting the level of fluid pressure applied to an actuator operatively attached to the actuator fork to control the pre-synchronization fork velocity within a predetermined range of a velocity target. The method determines, via a controller, the fork velocity during the pre-synchronization phase of a current synchronization event, compares the determined fork velocity to a velocity target, and adjusts the pressure level of fluid applied to an actuator piston of the actuator to control the velocity of the actuator fork within a predetermined range defined by the velocity target during a subsequent pre-synchronization phase. The velocity target may be defined for a shift type, such as a fast or slow shift, where the shift type is determined by the controller.

Abstract: A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a firing fraction module, an engine speed module, and an actuator control module. The firing fraction module determines a target firing fraction corresponding to a target number of activated cylinders out of a first number of cylinders in a firing order of an engine. The first number is a denominator of the target firing fraction. The engine speed module determines a plurality of periods based on a crankshaft position signal, with each of the periods corresponding to a predetermined amount of crankshaft rotation. The engine speed module determines the speed of the engine based on the plurality of periods and the target firing fraction. The actuator control module controls an actuator of at least one of the engine and a torque converter based on the engine speed.

Abstract: A vehicle structural member, such as a rocker panel, including a micro-truss core. The structural member includes specially configured and opposing outer panels that are welded together to define a channel therein, where the micro-truss core is placed in one of the panels or is fabricated to one of the panels during the micro-truss fabrication process before the panels are secured together. The micro-truss core can include separate individual sections, where each section has a tailored stiffness for that location in the member, or the micro-truss core can be a continuous core, where different sections along the length of the core are fabricated with different stiffnesses.

Abstract: A battery module is provided. The battery module includes a plurality of battery cell assemblies configured to electrically communicate with each other. Each battery cell assembly has an electrode stack enclosed by a case. The electrode stack is positioned in the case to form one or more peripheral spaces between the electrode stack and the case. Support members are positioned adjacent to each of the battery cell assemblies to contact a desired portion of the electrode stack. The support members are configured to focus a compressive force on a desired portion of the electrode stack. The compressive force urges gases formed during operation of the electrode stack into the peripheral spaces within the case.

Abstract: A camera system includes a body defining a cavity and a camera attached to the body within the cavity and including a lens and a ring surrounding the lens. The camera system includes a wiper assembly attached to the camera and configured for clearing debris from the lens. The wiper assembly includes a wiper configured for contacting and wiping the lens and having a first end and a second end spaced apart from the first end. The wiper is rotatable about a pivot axis between a stowed position in which the wiper contacts the ring and a deployed position in which the wiper contacts the lens. The wiper assembly also includes a counterweight attached to the second end and configured for disposing the wiper in the deployed position, and a resilient member disposed adjacent the ring and configured for disposing the wiper in the stowed position.

Abstract: A system and method for determining when to reset a controller in response to a bus off state. The method includes determining that the controller has entered a first bus off state and immediately resetting the controller. The method further includes setting a reset timer in response to the controller being reset, determining whether the controller has entered a subsequent bus off state, and determining whether a reset time. The method immediately resets the controller in response to the subsequent bus off state if the reset time is greater than the first predetermined time interval, and resets the controller in response to the subsequent bus off state after a second predetermined time interval has elapsed if the reset time is less than the first predetermined time interval.

Abstract: A test apparatus for eliciting a gear rattle from a gear-train employed in a device includes a fixture configured to support the device in a fixed starting position. The test apparatus also includes a tie-rod operatively connected to the device. Additionally, the test apparatus includes a controller configured to command the tie-rod to apply to the device at the starting position a force event defined by a mathematical function continuous in time. The force event is configured to elicit the gear-train rattle from the gear-train. A method for eliciting a gear rattle from a gear-train employed in a device is also disclosed.