Abstract: An inner door panel (30) for a vehicle side door that includes an integrated side impact beam (70) formed as part of the door in a die casting process. The inner door panel (30) includes an outer frame having a top rail (38), a bottom rail (40), an inner side rail (42) and an outer side rail (44) defining a central opening (34). The impact beam (70) includes a main beam portion (72), a first end support portion (74) and a second end support portion (78). The first end support portion is formed to the side rail (42) and the second end support portion (78) is formed to the outer side rail (44), where the main beam portion (72) extends across the opening (34).

Abstract: A method for predicting the duration of a future charging process for a vehicle battery. The method comprises estimating a future charge amount of the battery corresponding to the start of the future charging process. The method further comprises estimating a future temperature of the battery. The method still further comprises determining a future charging power or a characteristic thereof to be applied to the battery during the future charging process, wherein the future charging power or characteristic thereof is based on the estimated future charge amount and the estimated future temperature and is representative of a charging amount or characteristic thereof that will maintain the temperature of the battery at or below a threshold temperature during the future charging process. The method still further comprises predicting a duration of the future charging process based on the estimated future charge amount and the determined future charging power or characteristic thereof.

Abstract: A console assembly generally includes a console body and an armrest movably coupled to the console body. The console body defines an interior console cavity. The armrest can rotate relative to the console body about an axis of rotation between a closed, locked position and an open, unlocked position. Moreover, the armrest can move linearly relative to the console body between the open, unlocked position and an open, locked position. In the closed, locked position, the armrest covers the interior console cavity of the console body. When the armrest is in the open, unlocked position, the interior console cavity is accessible. When the armrest is in the open, locked position, the interior console cavity is accessible and the armrest is locked to the console body.

Abstract: A method for communicating using a hybrid vehicle communications network including a combination of wired and wireless electronic control units (ECUs) and wired and wireless peripherals. The network includes a plurality of ECUs that include a plurality of wireless ECUs. The network also includes a plurality of peripheral devices, where one or more of the peripheral devices receive commands from one or more of the ECUs and one or more of the peripheral devices provide signals to the ECUs, and where the plurality of peripherals include at least one wireless peripheral. Wireless transmission signals transmitted from one of the wireless peripherals is received by all of the wireless ECUs. The method performs an arbitration process where a message provided from one of the wireless ECUs is placed on a communications backbone based on a quality of the transmission signal from the wireless peripheral.

Abstract: A method for securing sandwich structures together, especially vehicle structures. In one embodiment, two sandwich structures are perpendicularly secured together, where a first one of the sandwich structures includes a micro-truss core having one unit cell geometry and second one of the sandwich structures includes a micro-truss core having different unit cell geometry. The micro-truss core of the second sandwich structure includes a micro-truss extension fabricated at the same time as the micro-truss core and having the same unit cell geometry as the micro-truss core for the first sandwich structure. The extension is inserted in an open area between face sheets in the first sandwich structure so that it abuts against the micro-truss core in the first sandwich structure.

Abstract: A system and method that provide a video-based vehicle navigation system. The system positions an arrow on the video display that shows the specific turning direction for the vehicle for route guidance purposes. To determine the proper position of the guidance arrow, the process determines a distance from the current vehicle position to the location where the vehicle needs to turn using any suitable information, such as GPS position, range measurements and map information. The process then positions the guidance arrow on the ground at the turning location in world coordinates, and projects the guidance arrow onto the image. The camera can be calibrated to the ground using various techniques, such as an online automatic calibration process that uses detected objects in the scene around the vehicle.

Abstract: An engine control system comprises a temperature control module and an engine disabling module. The temperature control module regulates a first temperature of an electrically heated catalyst (EHC) based on a first predetermined light-off temperature while an engine is shut down. The engine disabling module selectively disables start up of the engine when a second temperature of a passive catalyst is less than a second predetermined light-off temperature while a maximum torque output of an electric motor is greater than a desired torque output.

Abstract: A thermal management system that provides air cooling and heating for a battery by flow-shifting air through a battery enclosure. The battery includes a plurality of battery cells provided in the enclosure. The enclosure includes a first manifold having a first end and second end and second manifold opposite to the first manifold having a first end and second end. The thermal management system includes a plurality of valves for allowing air flow into and out of the first end or the second end of the first manifold and a second valve for allowing air flow into and out of the first end or the second end of the second manifold to provide the flow-shifting.

Abstract: A fuel control module, based on an engine torque request, fuels N cylinders of an engine using a first fuel system. N is an integer greater than zero. A throttle control module, based on the engine torque request and the fueling of the N cylinders using the first fuel system, opens a throttle valve to a predetermined wide open throttle (WOT) position. A cost module, when the engine torque request is greater than a predetermined torque: determines a first cost value for fueling at least one of the N cylinders of the engine using a second fuel system; and determines a second cost value for adjusting at least one operating parameter other than fueling of the engine. An adjustment module, based on, the first and second cost values, one of: initiates the fueling of the at least one of the N cylinders using the second fuel system; and adjusts of the at least one operating parameter other than fueling of the engine.

Abstract: A system and method for estimating the state-of-charge (SOC) of a battery cell in a vehicle using a magnetic sensor that measures changes in magnetism of the battery cell. The method provides an offset correction to a current output signal from the magnetic sensor that calibrates the current output signal to a known magnetic field strength, provides a temperature correction to the current output signal that corrects the current output signal based on a temperature of the magnetic sensor, and provides a current correction to the current output signal that removes portions of the magnetic field caused by other battery cells, where the corrected current output signal is converted to the battery cell SOC.

Abstract: A system and method for using data that is external to a vehicle in vehicular applications. The system and method include determining data that is external to the vehicle is available for use, comparing the external data to data that is available from a vehicle system, and determining whether the external data has a higher utility function compared to data that is available from a vehicle system. The system and method further include using the external data to enhance a vehicular application if the external data has a higher utility function.

Abstract: A number of variations may include a bicycle with motor assisted folding.

Abstract: A system and method for automating an assembly process of threading a tube-nut onto a threaded connector. The system includes a robot having a force sensor and a tube-nut runner tool coupled to the robot and having a tool head with a rotatable socket therein. The method includes engaging the socket to the tube-nut under force control using the force signal from the force sensor. The tool controller causes the socket to rotate the tube-nut where the tool controller controls the torque and/or angle displacement of the tool head to tighten the tube-nut on the threaded connector. The method also includes disengaging the tool head from the tube-nut after the tube-nut is properly tightened onto the threaded connector under force control to ensure that the end member is properly disengaged from the tube-nut.

Abstract: A fueling nozzle for dispensing a gaseous fuel to a vehicle includes a main body having a conduit formed therein and configured to permit the gaseous fuel to flow therethrough. The conduit terminates at a dispensing end of the main body. The dispensing end of the main body forms an interface with a fuel inlet of the vehicle during a fueling operation. The fueling nozzle further includes a sensor disposed at the dispensing end of the main body adjacent the conduit. The sensor is configured to detect a leakage of the gaseous fuel during the fueling operation.

Abstract: An engine control system of a vehicle includes a manifold temperature module, a runner temperature module. The manifold temperature module determines a first temperature of gas in an intake manifold of an engine. The runner temperature module determines a second temperature of gas in an intake runner associated with a cylinder based on the first temperature of the gas in the intake manifold. The engine control system further includes at least one of: a fuel control module that controls fueling of the cylinder based on the second temperature of the gas in the intake runner; and a spark control module that controls spark of the cylinder based on the second temperature of the gas in the intake runner.

Abstract: A communication system that includes a vehicle and a mobile device, and a method of continuing a mirroring session between the mobile device and a display in the vehicle, which is carried out using the communication system. The method includes the steps of: establishing the mirroring session between the mobile device and the vehicle display; providing mirroring data from the mobile device to the vehicle display via the mirroring session; receiving at the mobile device a keep-alive message from the vehicle display; and in response to receiving the keep-alive message, continuing the mirroring session following an initiation of an inactivity mode of the mobile device.

Abstract: A method for automated lane centering and/or lane changing purposes for a vehicle traveling on a roadway that employs roadway points from a map database to determine a reference vehicle path and sensors on the vehicle for detecting static and moving objects to adjust the reference path. The method includes reducing the curvature of the reference path to generate a reduced curvature reference path that reduces the turning requirements of the vehicle and setting the speed of the vehicle from posted roadway speeds from the map database. The method also includes providing multiple candidate vehicle paths and vehicle speeds to avoid the static and moving objects in front of the vehicle.

Abstract: A number of variations may include a product comprising a bicycle with an integrated folding system comprising: a first latch system in a stem of the bicycle; a second latch system in a headset of the bicycle; a third latch system in a frame of the bicycle; and wherein the first latch system, the second latch system, and the third latch system work simultaneously to fold the bicycle to a compact size.

Abstract: A vehicle diagnostic communication system and a method of establishing a secure diagnostic session at a vehicle is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: providing a seed value from an electronic control unit (ECU) to a vehicle diagnostics tool; determining a first challenge response at the diagnostics tool, a remote server coupled to the diagnostics tool, or both, wherein the first challenge response is calculated using the seed value and one or more iterations of a key derivation function; providing the first challenge response to the ECU; and if the first challenge response is validated at the ECU, conducting a diagnostic session between the diagnostics tool and the ECU.

Abstract: An injector driver module applies power to a fuel injector of an engine for a fuel injection event. A voltage measuring module measures first and second voltages at first and second electrical connectors of the fuel injector. A parameter determination module determines a maximum value based on a first difference between the first and second voltages, determines a minimum value based on the first difference between the first and second voltages, and determines a second difference between the maximum and minimum values. A diagnostic module, based on the second difference between the maximum and minimum values, indicates whether the fuel injector injected fuel in response to the application of power.