Abstract: A method of controlling exhaust braking in an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The engine includes an exhaust system, an exhaust pressure modulation valve, and a variable geometry turbocharger having adjustable vanes. The method includes restricting a flow of the exhaust gas through the exhaust system via a first partially-closed position of the valve. The valve's first partially-closed position increases the exhaust backpressure in the engine up to a first pressure value and generates a first stage of exhaust braking by the engine. The method also includes, following the increase of exhaust backpressure in the engine up to the first pressure value, restricting a flow of the exhaust gas through the turbocharger via closing the turbocharger's adjustable vanes. The closing of the turbocharger's adjustable vanes increases the exhaust backpressure up to a second pressure value in the exhaust system and generates a second stage of exhaust braking by the engine.

Abstract: A resettable sensor assembly includes a body having a axis and defining a cavity therein. The body includes a first plurality of threads disposed about the axis. The assembly includes a housing mated to the body and including at least one electrical contact. The assembly further includes a plate. The assembly also includes an actuator element configured for translating the plate along the axis between a first position in which the plate contacts the at least one electrical contact and a second position in which the plate is spaced apart from the at least one electrical contact. The element is formed from a shape memory alloy that is transitionable between an austenite crystallographic phase and a martensite crystallographic phase in response to a thermal activation signal to thereby translate the plate between the first position and the second position.

Abstract: A tailgate assembly includes a structure, and a handle assembly attached to the structure. The handle assembly is moveable relative to the structure between a stowed position, an intermediate position, and a deployed position. The handle assembly includes a connecting member that is attached to the structure. The connecting member is rotatable about a first axis relative to the structure. A handle portion is attached to the connecting member, and is rotatable about a second axis relative to the connecting member. The handle portion and the connecting member rotate in unison relative to the structure about the first axis, between the stowed position and the intermediate position, to position the handle portion outside an interior space of the structure. The handle portion rotates relative to the connecting member about the second axis, between the intermediate position and the deployed position, whereby a user may grasp the handle portion.

Abstract: An EGR valve assembly includes an intake gas passage, an exhaust gas passage, an outlet passage, a movable intake gas flap for changing an effective cross section of the intake gas passage and a movable exhaust gas flap for changing an effective cross section of the exhaust gas passage. The intake gas flap includes at least one channel connecting an inlet port on a upstream-side surface of the flap with an outlet port on a downstream-side surface of the flap.

Abstract: A system for controlling access into a vehicle in the event of loss of electrical power is disclosed. The vehicle has an access opening into the vehicle's interior with a first door for access thereto, a cargo enclosure with a second door therefor, and an energy storage device for generating the electrical power. A first latch selectively latches and unlatches the first door, while a first switch operates the first latch. A second latch selectively latches and unlatches the second door, while an actuator connects the second door to the vehicle body and selectively opens and closes the second door. A second switch selectively connects a motor-generator to the energy storage device for operating the actuator in a first mode and disconnects the motor-generator from the energy storage device for generating electric current when the second door is operated manually to operate the first latch in a second mode.

Abstract: A method that protects a direct injection fuel injector in a multi-fuel engine comprises selectively operating the engine with at least one of a directly injected fuel introduced through the direct injection fuel injector and a second fuel. When fuelling the multi-fuel engine with the second fuel, a fuel system protection technique is selectively commanded when one or more adverse conditions, such as the direct injection fuel injector requiring cooling, is determined to exist. The fuel system protection technique comprises (a) suspending fuelling with the second fuel and injecting the directly injected fuel for a first predetermined number of engine cycles, and (b) switching back to fuelling the multi-fuel engine with the second fuel for a second predetermined number of engine cycles. The first and second predetermined number of engine cycles are selected to keep torque disturbances below a predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: A Cu-amine complex of hydrated copper sulfate and ethylene diamine or an oligomer of ethylene diamine is employed in a direct (one-pot) synthesis of a copper-cation containing silicoaluminophosphate (SAPO) zeolite material having the Cu/SAPO-34 structure. The copper-amine complex is included in an aqueous gel of precursors of the SiO2, Al2O3, and P2O5 constituents, which are mixed, aged, and thermally treated to form the desired Cu/SAPO-34 structure. The synthesized Cu/SAPO-34 material is demonstrated to be an effective catalyst material in conversion of nitric oxide to nitrogen (using ammonia as a reductant) in synthetic exhaust streams characteristic of diesel engine and other lean-burn vehicle engine exhaust streams.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and systems are provided for communications between a vehicle and a remote device using a first vehicle communications module that communicates via a first communication channel. One exemplary method involves transmitting, by a second vehicle communications module via a second communication channel, an indication of an operating state of the first communications module, receiving, by the first communications module via the first communication channel, an acknowledgment responsive to the indication from the remote device, and changing the operating state of the first communications module in response to receiving the acknowledgment.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for detection and analysis of abnormalities in a power line communication network of a vehicle. The vehicle includes various vehicle modules. The power line communication network includes power lines designed to carry electric power to the vehicle modules. Each vehicle module includes a power line communication module that is communicatively coupled to at least one of the power lines. The power line communication modules enable the power lines to communicate communication information to and from the vehicle modules. The power line communication modules can communicate pilot signals over the power line communication network. One or more of the power line communication modules includes a reflectometer module configured to perform reflectometry processing on the pilot signals to determine properties of the power line communication network.

Abstract: A vehicle system and method of secure communication between a vehicle and an external device communicating with the vehicle in a diagnostics mode. The method includes the steps of: receiving a first diagnostic request at an electronic control unit (ECU) from the external device; determining an increased risk of security breach at the ECU based on the [nature of the] first request; and when it is determined that the increased risk exists, providing a misinformative response.

Abstract: A system and method of controlling Wi-Fi module operation based on vehicle location includes: detecting at a vehicle a geopolitical identifier broadcast by a wireless carrier system; determining whether operational settings of the Wi-Fi module conform to operational settings specified for the detected geopolitical identifier; and changing the operational settings of the Wi-Fi module when not conforming to the operational settings specified for the detected geopolitical identifier.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for adaptive driver guidance for navigation and location-based services based on user behavior patterns. A driver-facing camera and a gaze tracking system determine the location of the driver's visual focus while an outside-facing camera detects and interprets external driving situations, a microphone and a speech analyzer identify driver vocalizations, and driver-proximate sensors and the driver-facing camera detect driver emotions. The driver's visual focus, the driver vocalizations and the driver emotions, along with vehicle system parameters from a data bus, are used to evaluate driver satisfaction with navigation guidance and determine driver behavior patterns. An adaptive navigation guidance engine modifies navigation guidance content and timing based on the driver satisfaction and behavior patterns. Adaptation of guidance for location-based services is also provided.

Abstract: An engine control system for a vehicle comprises a torque module and a drag request evaluation module. The torque module controls torque output of an engine based on a driver torque request and increases the torque output based on a wheel drag torque request generated based on a driven wheel speed. The drag request evaluation module disables the increase of the torque output when the driven wheel speed is greater than an undriven wheel speed by more than a predetermined speed.

Abstract: A system and method for sharing information from a vehicle for comparison to information from other vehicles. The system and method include collecting vehicle trace data and sharing the vehicle trace data using a communications network such that the vehicle trace data is compared and ranked relative to the vehicle trace data of other vehicles.

Abstract: A number of variations may include a grille cover which may attach to a grille.

Abstract: A linear magnetic sensor shield system comprises first and second shield parts. The system may include first and second field sensor assemblies, each having field sensors disposed therein. The first shield part may be disposed adjacent to a first side of the first field sensor assembly, and the second shield part may be disposed adjacent to a second side of the second field sensor assembly. The shield parts may be formed of mu metal or a mu metal and steel composite, by of example. A torque transmitting device is also provided.

Abstract: A system and method for fusing the outputs from multiple LiDAR sensors on a vehicle that includes cueing the fusion process in response to an object being detected by a radar sensor and/or a vision system. The method includes providing object files for objects detected by the LiDAR sensors at a previous sample time, where the object files identify the position, orientation and velocity of the detected objects. The method projects object models in the object files from the previous sample time to provide predicted object models. The method also includes receiving a plurality of scan returns from objects detected in the field-of-view of the sensors at a current sample time and constructing a point cloud from the scan returns. The method then segments the scan points in the point cloud into predicted scan clusters, where each cluster identifies an object detected by the sensors.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring a state-of-charge (SOC) of a battery, where the system includes a sensor and a controller. The sensor provides a measurement signal that can track changes of a nominal volume of the battery by either measuring a size or pressure of the battery, where the nominal volume is the volume that the electrolyte, anode, cathode and current collectors would occupy if unconstrained. The controller is programmed to use a function to estimate the SOC from the measurement signal. The function can be established after constructing and finding a repeatable charging and discharging curve of the battery that graphs the measurement signal compared to the SOC of the battery.

Abstract: An apparatus for a gear shifter for use with a transmission is provided. The gear shifter includes a housing that defines a gate and a gear shift lever having a first end and a second end. The gear shift lever is at least partially received within the housing so that the first end is guided by the gate. The gear shifter includes a shifter block received within the housing and including a plurality of detents. One of the plurality of detents includes at least one pocket defined adjacent to the one of the plurality of detents so as to be in communication with the one of the plurality of detents. The at least one pocket and the plurality of detents are each sized to receive a portion of the second end of the gear shift lever.