Abstract: Presented are high-voltage electrical systems with optimized pulse width modulation (PWM) control, methods for making/using such systems, and vehicles with enhanced electric drive capabilities via PWM type and frequency control. A method of operating an electrical system includes an electronic controller determining a PWM region layout with multiple PWM regions arranged in a torque-speed curve calibrated to an electric motor and power inverter. The controller selects one of the PWM regions based on a speed and torque of the motor, and selects a PWM type based on this selected PWM region. The controller selects a PWM switching frequency style based on the selected PWM region, and selects a PWM switching frequency based on the selected PWM region, switching frequency style, and PWM type. The controller commands a power inverter to regulate transfer of electrical power between a rechargeable battery and the motor based on the PWM type and switching frequency.

Abstract: The present application relates to a system and method for providing autoregressive based residual echo suppression in the STFT domain in a bidirectional vehicle communications system including receiving, from a communications processor, a speaker signal for coupling to a speaker, receiving, from a microphone, a microphone signal wherein the microphone signal includes a voice signal and a residual echo signal, transforming the signals to the STFT domain generating an estimated power spectral density of the residual echo signal in response to a prior power spectral density of a prior residual echo signal, isolating the voice signal from the microphone signal by multiplying the estimated residual echo gain generated using the estimated power spectral density of the residual echo signal with the microphone signal, transforming the signals back to the time domain and coupling the voice signal to the communications processor.

Abstract: A light-emitting assembly configured to generate varied color light includes an assembly housing. The light-emitting assembly also includes a light filter element fixed relative to the assembly housing. The light filter element includes a plurality of transparent nanostructured ElectroChromic (TNEC) layers. When at least one of the plurality of TNEC layers is subjected to voltage, the subject TNEC layer(s) imparts a distinct reflective color to ambient light entering the light-emitting assembly. Such a light-emitting assembly may be specifically adapted for use on a motor vehicle.

Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, an interior heating system for occupant seats of a vehicle is provided. The interior heating system uses a weft co-knit fabric combined with at least one conductive electrode to heat selective regions of a vehicle seat. The interior heating system includes the weft co-knit fabric that contains a set of weft knit active or plated emitting yarn configured with at least one conductive electrode. The knit active or plated emitting yarn is co-knit with at least one parent yarn for enhanced uniformity of an electrical current applied to at least one conductive electrode from the weft co-knit fabric, and a plurality of conductive electrodes arranged in an interdigitated layout to combine together each conductive electrode with a set of a plurality of conductive co-knit active emitting yarns which attach to each electrode tine of the conductive electrode in a select region.

Abstract: A gear assembly includes a first gear having a first hub surrounded by a first plurality of teeth. The first plurality of teeth each define a respective first contact region. The gear assembly includes a second gear having a second hub surrounded by a second plurality of teeth. The second plurality of teeth are adapted to mesh with the first plurality of teeth at the respective first contact region in order to drive a respective load in a first direction. The first hub and the first plurality of teeth include respective zones defining a respective elastic modulus. A three-dimensional distribution of the respective physical size and the respective elastic modulus of the respective zones is optimized such that a fluctuation of mesh stiffness along the respective first contact region is at or below a first predefined threshold.

Abstract: The present application relates to a system for providing alert notifications of possible vehicle contact events including a vehicle controller for determining a first velocity of a host vehicle, a sensor for determining a second velocity of a proximate vehicle, a processor configured for predicting a time of intersection of the first velocity and the second velocity generating a control signal in response to the time of intersection being less than a first threshold time, and a controller configured for providing a vehicle contact warning and performing a contact preparation action in response to the control signal.

Abstract: An electrochemical assembly includes a case defining an interior region, an electrochemical cell, a device, and a pressure relief valve. The electrochemical cell is disposed within the interior region. The device includes a spreader component. The spreader component includes a polymer matrix and an additive embedded in the polymer matrix. The additive includes an endothermic phase change material, a flame retardant material, an intumescent material, or any combination thereof. The device defines a device outlet. The pressure relief valve has a valve inlet fluidly connected to the interior region and a valve outlet fluidly connected to the device. The pressure relief valve is configured to transfer a gas from the interior region to the device when a pressure in the interior region exceeds a predetermined pressure. The spreader component is configured to be in fluid communication with the gas and direct the gas to the device outlet.

Abstract: A novel power inverter system for transferring electric power between a DC power source and a multi-phase electric machine is described, and includes a power inverter, a Z-source inverter, a first switch, and a second switch. The first switch is arranged between positive and negative conductors of a high-voltage bus that is electrically coupled to the DC power source, and the second switch is arranged in-line on the positive conductor of the high-voltage bus.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a negative electrode material and methods of preparation and use relating thereto. The electrode material comprises a plurality of electroactive material particles, where each electroactive material particle includes an electroactive material core and an electronically conductive coating. The method includes contacting an electroactive material precursor including a plurality of electroactive material particles with a solution so as to form an electronically conductive coating on each of the electroactive material particles. The solution includes a solvent and one or more of copper fluoride (CuF2), titanium tetrafluoride (TiF3 or TiF4), iron fluoride (FeF3), nickel fluoride (NiF2), manganese fluoride (MnF2, MnF3, or MnF4), and vanadium fluoride (VF3, VF4, VF5). The electronically conductive coating includes a plurality of first regions and a plurality of second regions. The plurality of first regions include lithium fluoride.

Abstract: A tailgate assembly includes a first panel portion rotatably couplable to a vehicle body and pivotable between a closed position and an open position, a second panel portion rotatably coupled to the first panel portion and pivotable between a first position and a second position. The second panel portion is extendable relative to the first panel portion between a retracted position and an extended position. The tailgate assembly includes a third panel portion rotatably coupled to the second panel portion and pivotable between a stowed position and a use position. The third panel portion extends generally parallel with the second panel portion when the third panel portion is in the stowed position and the third panel portion extends generally perpendicular to the second panel portion when the third panel portion is in the use position.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension system includes a damper top mount including a top mount body defining an interior cavity, a damper coupled to the top mount and including a damping member and a damper rod coupled to the damping member, and a jounce shock assembly including a jounce shock body coupled with the damper top mount and encircling the top mount body. The jounce shock body includes an exterior wall and a dividing wall generally parallel to and interior of the exterior wall, a first chamber defined by the top mount body and the dividing wall, a second chamber fluidly coupled with and parallel to the first chamber and defined by the dividing wall and the exterior wall, a floating piston movably disposed within the second chamber, and a piston configured to translate within the first chamber between an extended position and a compressed position.

Abstract: A method of operating a fuel injection system for a motor vehicle includes one or more of the following: operating a fuel injector to perform a fuel injection, the fuel injector being in fluid communication with a fuel rail; sampling a rail pressure in the fuel rail during the fuel injection; regulating the rail pressure at a desired injection pressure, Pinj, to the fuel injector; measuring an overall leakage on variations of the rail pressure across an engine cycle for the motor vehicle and between two engine positions of an internal combustion engine for the motor vehicle; and restarting a new measurement cycle for a new pressure measurement target.

Abstract: A method for accelerating an explicit finite element analysis (FEA) simulation of a modeled system or process includes performing an initial iteration of the FEA simulation according to a baseline time interval via an FEA computing network, and calculating a criteria ratio of a predetermined set of scaling criteria for the modeled system or process. The method includes determining a time-scaling factor using the criteria ratio via the FEA computing network as a function of the criteria ratio, and then applying the time-scaling factor to the baseline time interval to generate a scaled time interval. The scaled time interval accelerates simulation time of the FEA simulation. The method includes performing a subsequent iteration of the explicit FEA simulation at the scaled time interval using the FEA computing network. The process continues for subsequent iterations, with the time-scaling factor adapting with each iteration.

Abstract: A lithium ion battery is provided that includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. One or more of the separator, positive electrode, and negative electrode includes a transition metal compound capable of catalyzing any gaseous reactants formed in the lithium ion battery to form a liquid. The transition metal compound may include ruthenium (Ru). In certain variations, the lithium ion battery includes an electrolyte that is a conductive medium for lithium ions to move between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The electrolyte comprises a transition metal compound capable of catalyzing a reaction of any gaseous reactants to form a liquid.

Abstract: A cup holder assembly includes a stationary upper ring, a lower cup vertically movable relative to the stationary upper ring between a first position and a second position, a flexible sleeve extending between an upper edge of the lower cup and a bottom edge of the stationary upper ring, and an actuator adapted to selectively move the lower cup relative to the stationary upper ring between the first and second positions, thereby simultaneously varying a depth of the cup holder assembly and varying an inner diameter of the cup holder assembly.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle configured to perform a lane change maneuver is described herein. The autonomous vehicle includes several different types of sensor systems, such as image, lidar, radar, sonar, infrared, and GPS. The autonomous vehicle additionally includes a computing system that executes instructions on a lane change detection system and a control system. The lane change detection system includes a region of interest module and an object trajectory module for determining whether the autonomous vehicle will collide with another object if the autonomous vehicle maneuvers into an adjacent lane. An instruction module of the lane change detection system is further used to facilitate operational control of a mechanical system of the autonomous vehicle, such as an engine or a steering system.

Abstract: A vehicle having at least one vehicle access secured by a first lock and at least one secure area secured by a second lock. The vehicle may also have a receiver configured to receive a command from a remote computing system to unlock the vehicle access or the secure area.

Abstract: A vehicle includes one or more cameras that capture a plurality of two-dimensional images of a three-dimensional object. A light detector and/or a semantic classifier search within those images for lights of the three-dimensional object. A vehicle signal detection module fuses information from the light detector and/or the semantic classifier to produce a semantic meaning for the lights. The vehicle can be controlled based on the semantic meaning. Further, the vehicle can include a depth sensor and an object projector. The object projector can determine regions of interest within the two-dimensional images, based on the depth sensor. The light detector and/or the semantic classifier can use these regions of interest to efficiently perform the search for the lights.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for aiding an operator in operating a vehicle. In one embodiment, a system includes a sensor system configured to generate sensor data sensed from an environment of the vehicle. The system further includes a control module configured to, by a processor, generate a bowl view image of the environment based on the sensor data, identify at least one of a double object and a missing object in the bowl view image, generate a second bowl view image of the environment by re-stitching the sensor data based on the at least one of double object and missing object, and generate display data based on the second bowl view image.

Abstract: A method and system of diagnosing and suggesting least probable faults for an exhibited vehicle failure. The method includes initiating a vehicle health management (VHM) algorithm to monitor a state of health (SOH) for at least one vehicle component at each vehicle operating event over a predetermined time period. The VHM algorithm determines at least one of a Green SOH, a Yellow SOH, and a Red SOH designation with a confidence level for the at least one vehicle component; calculating a number of Green SOH designations (Ncalculated) over the predetermined time period; and upon an exhibited vehicle failure, providing a least probable cause indication for the at least one component when a set of conditions are met. The set of conditions includes (i) Ncalculated is equal to or greater than a predetermined number of Green SOH designations and (ii) no Yellow SOH and Red SOH designations are present.