Abstract: Presented are torque converters (TC) with planetary-type vibration dampers, methods for making/using such TC assemblies, and vehicles equipped with such TC assemblies. A TC assembly includes a TC housing drivingly connected to a prime mover to receive torque therefrom, and a TC output member drivingly connected to a transmission to transfer torque thereto. Rotatably mounted within an internal fluid chamber of the TC housing are juxtaposed turbine and impeller blades. The impeller blades are rotatably mounted to the housing. A TC clutch is operable to lock the TC housing to the TC output member. A torsional vibration damper, which is disposed within the internal fluid chamber, includes a sun gear attached to the TC output member for unitary rotation, a ring gear attached to the TC clutch for unitary rotation, and a planet carrier intermeshed with the ring and sun gears and attached to the turbine blades for unitary rotation.

Abstract: Described is a system for identification of correlations in customer observables (COs). The system extracts key phrases representing COs from textual inputs from multiple data sources, wherein the COs are related to a consumer product. A unified hypergraph is constructed that models co-occurrences of COs. The unified hypergraph includes nodes and types of hyperedges connecting the nodes, where COs are represented by nodes and data sources are represented by different types of hyperedges. Each node of the unified hypergraph is embedded into a latent feature space. The unified hypergraph is partitioned into clusters within the latent feature space, where each cluster contains correlated CO data. The correlated CO data from a cluster are used to generate and provide targeted messages specific to the consumer product to a display device.

Abstract: A handle assembly for a seat of a vehicle includes an up/down handle, a recline handle, and a finger guard. The up/down handle is configured to adjust a vertical position of a seat bottom when the up/down handle is rotated relative to the seat about a first pivot axis. The recline handle is configured to allow an angle of a seat back to be adjusted when the recline handle is rotated relative to the seat about a second pivot axis. The finger guard is configured to cover a gap between the up/down handle and the recline handle to prevent an occupant in the seat from inserting a finger into the gap. The finger guard is separate from and attached to the recline handle and is configured to rotate about a third pivot axis relative to the recline handle independent of rotation of the recline handle about the second pivot.

Abstract: Systems and method are provided for controlling a vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving, by a controller onboard the vehicle, lidar data from the lidar device; receiving, by the controller, image data from the camera device; computing, by the controller, an edge map based on the lidar data; computing, by the controller, an inverse distance transformation (IDT) edge map based on the image data; aligning, by the controller, points of the IDT edge map with points of the lidar edge map to determine extrinsic parameters; storing, by the controller, extrinsic parameters as calibrations in a data storage device; and controlling, by the controller, the vehicle based on the stored calibrations.

Abstract: The present application relates to a method and apparatus for implementing a radar array including a gate bias source for providing a first variable voltage, a back gate well control for providing a second variable voltage, and a field effect transistor having a drain, a source, a gate and a back gate well control, the field effect transistor being further configured to couple an alternating current radar signal between the drain and the source and to adjust a phase of the alternating current radar in response to first variable voltage applied to the gate and the second variable voltage applied to the back gate well control.

Abstract: A positive electrode for an electrochemical cell of a secondary lithium metal battery may include an aluminum metal substrate and a protective layer disposed on a major surface of the aluminum metal substrate. The protective layer may include a conformal aluminum fluoride coating layer. A positive electrode active material layer may overlie the protective layer on the major surface of the aluminum metal substrate. The positive electrode active material layer may include a plurality of interconnected pores, which may be infiltrated with a nonaqueous electrolyte that includes a lithium imide salt.

Abstract: A battery system with battery cell groups arranged in battery modules includes a controller network configured to monitor each module. The network includes multiple cell monitoring units (CMUs); each CMU electrically connected to one battery module and configured to process cell data for the respective battery cell groups. The network also includes multiple voltage sensors on each CMU—each sensor configured to detect voltage across one respective cell group, and multiple microchips—each microchip arranged on one CMU in communication with the respective voltage sensors. Each microchip is programmed with an algorithm configured to receive detected voltage data from the respective sensors at predetermined time intervals over a predetermined timeframe and store the voltage data. The algorithm is additionally configured to determine a discharge rate of each associated cell group using the stored data and determine degradation of each cell group using the determined respective discharge rate.

Abstract: Thick positive electrodes (e.g., cathodes) for an electrochemical cell that cycles lithium and methods for making them are provided. A slurry may be applied to a current collector or other substrate. The slurry includes positive electroactive material particles, graphene nanoplatelets, polymeric binder, and solvent and has a solids content of ?about 65% by weight and a kinematic viscosity of greater than or equal to about 6 Pa·s to less than or equal to about 30 Pa·s at a shear rate of about 20/s. The slurry is dried to substantially remove the solvent and pressure applied to form an electroactive material layer having a thickness of ?about 150 ?m and a porosity of ?about 15% by volume to ?about 50% by volume. The electroactive material layer is substantially free of macrocracks.

Abstract: A compressor assembly may include a compressor housing and a compressor impeller disposed within the compressor housing. The compressor housing may have an internal aerodynamic surface that defines a circumferentially extending volute, and the compressor impeller may have an external aerodynamic surface that faces toward at least a portion of the internal aerodynamic surface of the compressor housing. A nonstick coating may be formed on the internal aerodynamic surface of the compressor housing or on the external aerodynamic surface of the compressor impeller. The nonstick coating may prevent foreign material introduced into the compressor assembly from collecting on the internal aerodynamic surface of the compressor housing or on the external aerodynamic surface of the compressor impeller.

Abstract: An energy-dissipating cover for covering a component sensitive to mechanical impulse includes a sheet of selected ferrous or aluminum alloy, the sheet having a top surface, a bottom surface, an outer perimeter, an overall area within the outer perimeter and a nominal thickness of no more than 2.5 mm. The sheet is configured for connection with one or more external structures at a plurality of connection points within the outer perimeter, wherein the overall area comprises a plurality of supported areas and at least one unsupported area. Embossments are formed within the at least one unsupported area and extend outward from the bottom surface. The embossments are shaped, sized and arranged so as to limit orthogonal deflection of the sheet from a mechanical impulse directed normal to the bottom surface of the sheet at the plurality of embossments.

Abstract: A method for constructing a lamination for a rotary electric machine includes forming an annular lamination from a ferrous core material having a first relative magnetic permeability. The lamination defines through-openings, e.g., for permanent magnets or conductors. Peripheral bridges of the core material extend between the through-openings and an outer or inner diameter surface of the lamination. The method includes diffusing an alloy material having a second relative magnetic permeability into the bridges to form austenitic bridges, with the second relative magnetic permeability being less than the first relative magnetic permeability. A rotary electric machine includes a stator and rotor. A vehicle includes a rotary electric machine connected to the battery pack and to road wheels, and having a rotor and/or a stator constructed in accordance with the method.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling a vehicle action based on a condition of a road on which a vehicle is travelling, including: obtaining first sensor data as to a surface of the road from one or more first sensors onboard the vehicle; obtaining second sensor data from one or more second sensors onboard the vehicle as to a measured parameter pertaining to operation of the vehicle or conditions pertaining thereto; generating a plurality of road surface channel images from the first sensor data, wherein each road surface channel image captures one of a plurality of facets of properties of the first sensor data; classifying, via a processor using a neural network model, the condition of the road on which the vehicle is travelling, based on the measured parameter and the plurality of road surface channel images; and controlling a vehicle action based on the classification of the condition of the road.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for monitoring a fuel injector of an internal combustion engine. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving a set of feature data, the feature data sensed from a fuel injector during a fuel injection event; processing, by a processor, the set of feature data with a decision tree model to generate a prediction of a fault status; and selectively generating, by the processor, a notification signal based on the prediction.

Abstract: A pre-engaged piston starter system of an automobile vehicle includes an engine having a flywheel to start the engine connected to the engine by an engine shaft. A starter motor provides rotational energy to a starter gear. A pinion gear transfers rotational energy of the starter gear to the flywheel. A solenoid is energized to shift the pinion gear to an engaged position between the flywheel and the starter gear. An auto-stop mode is entered when an engine speed is decreased below a calibrated threshold speed defining approximately 250 rpm. A calculated pinion pre-engagement engine speed allows engagement of the pinion gear when the engine speed is below the calibrated threshold speed.

Abstract: A battery connection system includes a conductor configured to connect with a battery that has a post. An inner clamp element has a wall that is shaped to mate with the post and that defines a hollow interior and an exterior. The wall has a notch defining a void in the wall. An outer clamp element mates with the exterior of the wall of the inner clamp element to reduce the size of the void to secure the conductor to the battery.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for limit cycle detection and cessation. A control system generates a drive signal with at least one drive component. An actuator effects a response to the drive signal and a sensor measures the response. Characteristics of the drive signal and of the drive components are accessed by a controller. The characteristics are compared to a predetermined set of characteristics. When the characteristics fall within the predetermined set of characteristics, a magnitude of at least one of the characteristics is evaluated. When the magnitude exceeds a predetermined value indicative of the limit cycle, an action is undertaken to stop the limit cycle.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing method comprises: positioning a sheet of composite material; curing a predetermined portion of the sheet; cutting the sheet about the perimeter of the predetermined portion to create a preceding processed sheet; adding a successive sheet of composite material atop and in contact with the preceding processed sheet; curing a predetermined portion of the successive sheet such that the predetermined portions of the successive sheet and the preceding processed sheet are bonded together; and cutting the successive sheet about the perimeter of its predetermined portion to create a subsequent processed sheet. The steps of adding, curing and cutting a successive sheet may be repeated for a plurality of cycles to produce a three-dimensional composite product.

Abstract: A rear-center head restraint system for an automobile vehicle includes a rear seatback of an automobile vehicle. A head restraint assembly is mounted on the rear seatback and is moved between a stowed position and a deployed position. The head restraint assembly includes a forward head restraint portion displaced from the stowed position in an upward direction and in a forward direction with respect to the rear seatback. A rear head restraint portion is positioned rearward of the forward head restraint portion and is displaced in the upward direction as the forward head restraint portion displaces away from the stowed position. At least one headrest post is fixedly positioned within the rear seat back. A release mechanism connected to the at least one headrest post is operated to release the head restraint assembly from the stowed position.

Abstract: A method for controlling the temperature of re-circulated exhaust gas in an internal combustion engine includes operating the internal combustion engine on a base line mode, receiving a signal indicative of an engine operating temperature, wherein the engine operating temperature is one of coolant temperature, exhaust temperature and oil temperature, comparing the engine operating temperature to a predetermined IEGR threshold, when the engine operating temperature is less than the predetermined IEGR threshold, activating an IEGR mode and activating an EEVO mode, and when the engine operating temperature is greater than the first predetermined IEGR threshold, deactivating the IEGR mode and deactivating the EEVO mode.

Abstract: A hybrid lithium-ion battery/capacitor cell comprising at least a pair of graphite anodes assembled with a lithium compound cathode and an activated carbon capacitor electrode can provide useful power performance properties and low temperature properties required for many power utilizing applications. The graphite anodes are formed of porous layers of graphite particles bonded to at least one side of current collector foils which face opposite sides of the activated carbon capacitor. The porous graphite particles are pre-lithiated to form a solid electrolyte interface on the anode particles before the anodes are assembled in the hybrid cell. The pre-lithiation step is conducted to circumvent the irreversible reactions in the formation of a solid electrolyte interface (SEI) and preserve the lithium content of the electrolyte and lithium cathode during formation cycling of the assembled hybrid cell. The pre-lithiation step is also applicable to other anode materials that benefit from such pre-lithiation.