Abstract: A battery system for a motor vehicle or another electrical system includes a battery cover, one or more battery cells, and a diverter assembly. The cells define a battery cavity in fluid communication with a corresponding vent opening. An air gap may be defined in an exhaust volume within the battery system. The diverter assembly includes a diverter body arranged relative to the vent openings. The diverter body is moveable or stationary. In response to a thermal propagation event occurring in the module or at least one of the battery cells, each diverter body diverts a high-temperature flow of ejecta from the cavity into an exhaust volume in a predetermined flow direction when the flow of ejecta passes through the vent opening. The diverter assembly may include a support member connected to the diverter body and connectable to the battery cell.

Abstract: A system for controlling movement of a vehicle is provided and includes data processing hardware that performs operations comprising monitoring contextual events in a current, parked location of a vehicle, detection of a contextual event indicating an impending presence of a service vehicle requiring access to the parked location of the vehicle. The operations also comprise monitoring at least one vehicle sensor of the vehicle, the at least one vehicle sensor providing sensor data to the data processing hardware for use by the data processing hardware in determining the presence of a service vehicle in an area where the vehicle is parked and moving the vehicle from the current, parked location of the vehicle to a different location in response to detection of a contextual event or determination of the presence of a service vehicle in the area where the vehicle is parked.

Abstract: A system and method for a vehicle control adaptation to a crosswind and a wind gust including a controller situated within a vehicle to receive wind data inputs. The wind data inputs are based on a location of the vehicle and include a sustained wind velocity, a sustained wind direction, and a wind gust level. The controller further receives vehicle measurement data from one or more sensors situated within the vehicle and determines a wind impact on the vehicle based on the wind data inputs and the vehicle measurement data. The controller further compensates for the wind impact by a feedforward control in response to a low bandwidth component of the wind data inputs and by a feedback control in response to a high bandwidth component of the wind data inputs. The controller generates a feedback and/or a control based on the wind impact.

Abstract: Presented are devices for measuring dimensions of tear seams, methods for making/using such devices, and handheld clamp calipers for gauging material thicknesses of tear seams in passenger airbag breakaway panels. A handheld or automated measurement tool for determining seam dimensions includes first and second jaws operatively attached to a calibrated scale. The calibrated scale displays a measurement value fora dimension of a seam. The first jaw includes a first jaw tip projecting from a first jaw mandible. The second jaw includes a second jaw tip projecting from a second jaw mandible, which is movably attached with the first jaw mandible. Each of the jaw tips contacts a respective surface of the seam. An interior edge of the second jaw tip is disposed at an oblique angle of less than 90 degrees from an interior edge of the second jaw mandible.

Abstract: A safety equipment monitoring system for a vehicle includes a vehicle processor for storing vehicle data including one or more of vehicle event data, vehicle occupant data, and restraint system data. The safety equipment monitoring system also includes a server communicatively coupled with the vehicle processor and configured to determine a baseline desired location of a restraint based on the vehicle occupant data and the restraint system data. The server is also configured to determine if any deviations to the desired location of the restraint have occurred based on one or more of vehicle event data and the restraint system data.

Abstract: A battery pack for a direct current (DC) voltage bus includes a battery disconnect unit (BDU) operable for controlling a connection state of the battery pack with respect to the DC voltage bus, first and second battery sections, and six transfer conductors, e.g., busbars or cables/wires. The first battery section has first and second battery modules with corresponding battery cells. The first and second battery modules are connected in series. The first and second battery sections are connected in parallel. The second battery section has third and fourth battery modules each with additional battery cells, with the third and fourth battery modules connected in series. The six transfer conductors collectively interconnect the battery modules, sections, and BDU. A total battery current is divided equally between the battery sections, with the transfer conductors being rated for half of the total battery current.

Abstract: A method of controlling a reservation at a charging station for a vehicle includes a controller in communication with a remote advisory unit. The method includes positioning a ground lock at the charging slot, the ground lock being controllable through a station command unit. The method includes generating an identification number through the remote advisory unit and transmitting the identification number to the controller and the station command unit. The identification number is randomly generated. The ground lock is moved to a blocking position when an estimated time of arrival of the vehicle is less than a first threshold. The method includes broadcasting a message to the station command unit with the identification number, via the controller, when the estimated time of arrival is less than a second threshold. The ground lock is moved to a non-blocking position when an authentication process is completed.

Abstract: A system includes a vehicle external to a back office portal. The back office portal is operational to generate a signed update mode record. The vehicle has multiple devices and a component. The component is in communication with the devices, and operational to receive the signed update mode record, verify that the signed update mode record is from the back office portal and was created for the component, erase credentials within the component that establish the component as valid to the plurality of devices in response to the verification of the signed update mode record, perform an irreversible action within the component, enter a software update mode, exit the software update mode, and reject each request from the plurality of devices to the component that relies on the credentials that were erased from the component.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle body arranged along a first axis and first and second road wheels, each mounted on a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. The vehicle also includes a stabilizer bar mounted to the vehicle body. The vehicle additionally includes respective first and second telescoping multiple-section links connecting the stabilizer bar to corresponding first and second road wheels. Each of the first and the second telescoping multiple-section links is configured to selectively operate in a first mode and a second mode. In the first mode, telescoping of each of the first and the second multiple-section links is locked to operatively connect the first road wheel to the second road wheel via the stabilizer bar. In the second mode, the telescoping of each of the first and the second multiple-section links is unlocked to operatively disconnect the first and second road wheels from the stabilizer bar.

Abstract: Presented are thermal management systems using coolant flow distribution plates for immersion cooling of battery cells, methods for making/using such systems, and vehicles equipped with such systems for cooling the vehicles' battery packs. A battery assembly includes multiple battery cells arranged in adjacent, mutually parallel cell rows. The battery cells are stored inside a protective battery housing that includes inlet and outlet fluid ports for receiving and evacuating therethrough dielectric coolant fluid. A pair of (first and second) separator plates is located between each neighboring pair of cell rows. Each plate includes coolant channels that are arranged in mutually parallel channel bands. The separator plates are in face-to-face contact with each other such that each channel band of the first separator plate is aligned with a respective channel band of the second plate so the coolant channels cooperatively distribute coolant fluid onto and vertically upward between the battery cells.

Abstract: A system for minimizing iron infusion in a fuel cell includes a catalyst coated on proton exchange membrane (CCM) having a plurality of side edge portions. The CCM includes a membrane having a first planar side and a second planar side, an anode on the first planar side of the membrane, and a cathode on the second planar side of the membrane. The system further includes an anode gas diffusion layer (GDL) including a first micro-porous layer. The first micro-porous layer is in contact with the anode. The system further includes a cathode GDL including a second micro-porous layer. The second micro-porous layer is in contact with the cathode. The system further includes an adhesive in contact with the plurality of side edge portions of the CCM. The first micro-porous layer, the second micro-porous layer, and the adhesive collectively encapsulate the CCM and minimize iron infusing into the membrane.

Abstract: A system and method for estimation method for determining a location of a vehicle digital key wallet includes selecting, by a user, whether to store a digital key wallet in a cloud storage or within a secure telematics unit contained within a vehicle. The digital key wallet is used to initiate an event within the vehicle. A backoffice server stores data including a radio intelligence database and a rule-based vehicle pattern matrix. The digital key wallet is switched to a fallback device based on the status of a communication link with the secure telematics unit, the radio intelligence database, and the rule-based vehicle pattern matrix.

Abstract: A battery pack includes an elongated exhaust conduit defining a gas flow channel. The exhaust conduit includes a longitudinal center axis and a terminal end having a pack vent. The battery pack also includes fins disposed within the gas flow channel, and a plurality of battery cells arranged adjacent to the exhaust conduit. Each respective battery cell includes an outer casing defining a cell cavity. The casing defines a cell vent opening. An anode and a cathode are disposed within the cell cavity, and a vent cap covers the cell vent opening. The vent cap opens at a predetermined pressure to release hot gasses from the cell cavity into the gas flow channel. The fins direct the hot gasses along the longitudinal center axis and toward the terminal end of the exhaust conduit, and thus to the pack vent for discharge to the surrounding ambient environment.

Abstract: A terminal arrangement for high-voltage batteries is disclosed. The terminal arrangement includes a substrate having concentric generally tubular inner and outer walls extending from an upper surface of the substrate, with an annular terminal disposed on the upper surface between the inner and outer walls. The inner and outer walls have respective inner and outer heights above a top surface of the annular terminal and the annular terminal has a radial span between the inner and outer walls, wherein the inner and outer heights and the radial span are sized so as to preclude human fingertips above a predetermined size from touching the annular terminal.

Abstract: Presented are smart vehicle systems and control logic for battery thermal event detection and severity assessment, methods for making/using such systems, and vehicles equipped with such systems. A method of operating a vehicle includes a resident or remote vehicle controller detecting a thermal event in at least one battery cell in the vehicle's battery system and, upon detection, monitoring the vehicle's surrounding area to detect target objects near the vehicle. Responsive to detecting any target objects near the vehicle, the controller aggregates target object data, including a total number of detected target objects and respective proximities of the detected target objects to the vehicle. Using this target object data, a situational severity level is estimated for the thermal event; the controller determines if the severity level exceeds a maximum allowable severity level. If so, the controller responsively commands a vehicle subsystem to execute a control operation to mitigate the event.

Abstract: A compression limiter of a first part includes a body defining an aperture, a pair of fingers extending from the body into the aperture to a distal end configured to engage with a thread of a bolt of a second part, the first part and the second part being configured to be secured to one another via the bolt passing through the aperture, and a pair of slots on either side of the pair of fingers configured to allow the pair of fingers to flex in response to a force exerted upon the pair of fingers.

Abstract: A method when executed causes data processing hardware to perform operations including receiving a first audio signal and a second audio signal simultaneously at an adaptive filter of an acoustic echo canceler (AEC). The first audio signal corresponds to a third-party source and the second audio signal corresponds to a target source. The operations include estimating an echo signal present in the second audio signal based on the simultaneous first audio signal and the second audio signal received at the adaptive filter and estimating an echo signal directivity of the estimated echo signal, determining a target directivity of the target source, and comparing the estimated echo signal directivity with the determined target directivity. The operations include detecting a divergence of an estimated echo signal direction toward a target source direction to determine AEC divergence due to a double talk scenario and resetting the adaptive filter and the acoustic echo canceler.

Abstract: A method for constant pressure regulation of battery cells includes disposing the cells in a stacked arrangement within a battery cell placement volume of an apparatus configured to maintain a constant pressure on the cells, providing a gas pressure within a chamber of the apparatus, thereby causing an initial pressure to be applied on the battery cells, and detecting an expansion of the battery cells during a predetermined timespan using a linear displacement sensor. During the predetermined timespan, if the detected expansion is less than a maximum allowable expansion minus a predetermined measurement error, then the gas pressure within the chamber is increased, and if the detected expansion is greater than the maximum allowable expansion plus the predetermined measurement error, then the gas pressure within the chamber is decreased. An apparatus for constant pressure regulation of battery cells is also provided.

Abstract: A system for fuel cell membrane edge protection includes a fuel cell including a fuel-cell membrane-subgasket assembly. The assembly includes an anode gas diffusion electrode and a cathode gas diffusion electrode configured for facilitating an electrochemical reaction. The reaction creates water as a by-product. The assembly further includes a proton exchange membrane disposed between the electrodes and a subgasket. The subgasket includes an interior aperture portion defined by a perimeter and is connected to the anode gas diffusion electrode and the membrane about the perimeter such that an area of overlap between the subgasket, the electrode, and the membrane exists around the perimeter. The assembly further includes a carbon paper layer spanning the interior aperture portion. The layer includes patterned wettability and is configured to move the water away from the area of overlap into a center portion of the layer.

Abstract: A method, system and vehicle that repetitively correct angle offsets in a synthetic aperture radar image of a vehicle while the vehicle is in motion by utilizing a radar system and a camera to determine accurate velocity of a measured object by matching angles of the object in the SAR image with angles of the object in the camera image, thereby reducing angle offsets of objects in the SAR image. The method includes obtaining an SAR image of another vehicle via a radar unit of the vehicle, obtaining a camera image of the other vehicle via a camera unit of the vehicle, determining an association between at least one object in the SAR image and a corresponding at least one object in the camera image, correcting a velocity estimation of the vehicle based on the determined association, and adjusting the SAR image based on the corrected velocity estimation.