Abstract: A vehicle includes a transmission, hood, DC energy storage system, power inverter module, high-voltage AC device, sensors, and a controller. The sensors are operable for determining input signals and conditions, including a position sensor operable for detecting an open/closed position of the hood. The controller is programmed to execute a method for preventing access or exposure to the AC-side of the high-voltage system in an ignition-on state, to receive the input signals and conditions, and to selectively prevent access to the AC-side via a corresponding control action using the received input signals and conditions. The input signals and conditions include the open/closed position of the hood, a PRNDL position, and a powertrain mode of the vehicle.

Abstract: A driver assistance method includes determining, with a horizon provider module, a first path comprising a first road segment and a second road segment based on a position of a vehicle and a predetermined horizon distance. A second path comprising the first road segment and a third road segment is determined based on the position of the vehicle and the predetermined horizon distance. Path data characterizing the first path, the second path, a position of the vehicle relative to the first path, and a position of the vehicle relative to the second path is then transmitted to a reconstructor module.

Abstract: A roof segment for a vehicle, particularly a motor vehicle, wherein the roof segment has a flat base element with a wall, wherein the wall is created from a single, plastically deformed starting material, forms a closed hollow cross section, and encloses one or more cavities. The invention further relates to a method for producing a roof segment that may include plastic deformation of a single starting material to produce a blank that has a wall with a closed hollow cross section, and hotforming the blank to produce the flat base element.

Abstract: A SCR device includes a substrate having a first portion, and a second portion disposed downstream of the first portion. The first portion of the substrate includes a volume that is between 15% and 25% of a total volume of the substrate. A first selective catalytic reduction compound is disposed on the first portion of the substrate, and includes an iron zeolite (Fe-Zeolite) compound. A second selective catalytic reduction compound is disposed on the second portion of the substrate, and includes a copper (Cu) SAPO-34 compound. The copper SAPO-34 compound includes a catalyst density of less than 2.74 mg copper per cubic centimeter of copper SAPO-34 compound. The copper SAPO-34 compound is applied onto the second portion of the substrate at a compound density of less than 110 g of copper SAPO-34 compound per liter of volume of the second portion of the substrate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for regenerating a Lean NOx Trap in an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The internal combustion engine includes a Lean NOx Trap, a turbocharger having a turbine. An electronic control unit is configured to execute a regeneration event of the Lean NOx Trap, and regulate a position of an actuator affecting a rotating speed of the turbine using a closed-loop control strategy of an air pressure into an intake duct downstream of a compressor of the turbocharger and upstream of a throttle valve during the execution of the regeneration event.

Abstract: A transmission-mounted electric machine includes an integrated rotational position sensor. The rotational position sensor includes a rotor element and a stator element. The stator element is attached to a stator element of the transmission at a plurality of mounting points and includes an alignment adjustment mechanism. The rotor element of the sensor is slip-fit against a shoulder of a rotor hub and held in place using a wave spring.

Abstract: A method including positioning an insert in a vertical mold including a first mold portion and a second mold portion; and casting a material including a metal around at least a portion of the insert.

Abstract: An electronic park brake module for use with a vehicle is disclosed herein. In an embodiment, the electronic park brake module includes, but is not limited to, a processor and an electronic memory unit. The processor and the electronic memory unit are configured to cooperate to determine when a user has made a request for dynamic electronic park braking, to determine whether the user has a first intent or a second intent when requesting dynamic electronic park braking, to send a first command causing a first amount of braking force to be applied when the first intent has been determined, and to send a second command causing a second amount of braking force to be applied when the second intent has been determined.

Abstract: The present disclosure described a vehicle seat that includes a seat part with an elastic seat padding, a backrest part with an elastic backrest padding, and a seat cover for the seat part and a seat cover for the backrest part. The elastic seat padding has a primary seat padding part and at least one secondary seat padding part. The elastic backrest padding has a primary backrest padding part and at least one secondary backrest padding part. The secondary seat padding and the secondary backrest padding part are softer than the primary seat padding and the primary backrest padding part, respectively.

Abstract: A system for enabling a driver of a vehicle to visibly observe objects located in a blind spot includes, but is not limited to, a rear view viewing device that is mounted to the vehicle and configured to be electronically adjustable. The system further includes a sensor that is associated with the vehicle and that is configured to detect a location of an object with respect to the vehicle and to generate a first signal indicative of the location of the object. The system further includes a processor that is communicatively coupled with the sensor and that is operatively coupled with the rear view viewing device. The processor is configured to obtain the first signal from the sensor and to command the rear view viewing device to adjust such that the object is visibly observable to the driver when the processor receives the first signal.

Abstract: A camera system for a vehicle includes a body defining a cavity therein, and a camera including a lens. The camera is disposed in a deployed position such that the lens protrudes from the cavity. The camera system includes a debris region covering the lens and a duct disposed within the cavity. The duct defines a channel therein and has a first end spaced apart from the camera and a second end spaced apart from the first end. The duct is configured for directing an airstream through the channel from the first end to the debris region. A vehicle including the camera system is also disclosed.

Abstract: An integrated airbag and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) assembly includes an airbag module and an HVAC unit. The airbag module includes an airbag housing and an inflatable bladder at least partially disposed in the airbag housing. The inflatable bladder is movable relative to the airbag housing between a stowed position and a deployed position. The HVAC unit includes an HVAC housing. The HVAC housing supports the airbag housing.

Abstract: A control system includes a state of charge module and a control module. The state of charge module receives a parameter associated with a battery in a vehicle and determines a state of charge of the battery based on the parameter. The control module activates a heater in a catalytic converter in an exhaust system of the vehicle based on the state of charge.

Abstract: Micro-fibrillated cellulose nanofibers (or other suitable fibrillated organic polymer nanofibers) are dispersed with ceramic particles (such as alumina or silica powder) in water suspension and formed into a suitable porous mat shape by wet-laying the suspension on a suitable mesh structure. After removal of the mat from the mesh and drying, the suitably proportioned cellulose nanofibers/ceramic powder composite may be coated with a thin porous polymer layer to further fix the particles between the fibers and strengthen the resulting composite membrane for use as a separator layer between the electrode layers of an electrochemical cell. The strength and temperature resistance of the composite separator layer make it particularly useful in lithium-ion batteries for vehicle traction motors.

Abstract: The disclosure describes a box extender for a pickup truck that has a box with a bed and a tailgate, where the tailgate extends the bed's length in a longitudinal direction when open. The box extender may have access doors. First and second side walls may be mounted to the box to pivot between a forward, stowed position along opposite walls of the box and a rearward, extended position above the tailgate. An end wall may be disposed above the tailgate between the first and second side walls and may include a first section that is hinged to the first side wall and a second section that is hinged to the second side wall. The side walls and the end wall may enclose a volume above the tailgate for cargo storage. The first and second sections of the end wall may be opened to access the box.

Abstract: A method of controlling a vehicle includes moving a lift generating device to generate lift when a vehicle speed is greater than a pre-defined speed, a steering angle of the vehicle is equal to or less than a minimum angle value, a lateral acceleration of the vehicle is equal to or less than a minimum lateral acceleration value, and a corner brake fluid pressure at any of the wheels is equal to or less than a minimum brake fluid pressure. A downforce generating device is moved to generate downforce when the vehicle speed is greater than the pre-defined speed, the steering angle is equal to or greater than a maximum angle value, the lateral acceleration is equal to or greater than a maximum lateral acceleration value, and the corner brake fluid pressure at any of the wheels is equal to or greater than a maximum brake fluid pressure.

Abstract: A method for recognizing a known object in a field of view of a three-dimensional (3D) vision system includes capturing a bitmap image file of the field of view and executing a first feature extraction to generate appearance features including a color histogram and an edge direction histogram. A reduced search space is identified based upon the appearance features including the color histogram and the edge direction histogram. A second feature extraction of the bitmap image file is executed to identify geometric features including a viewpoint feature histogram and an ensemble of shape functions. The appearance features and the geometric features are fused with contents of the reduced search space. The fused appearance features, geometric features and contents of the reduced search space are compared with a plurality of predetermined partial views of a plurality of known objects to recognize one of the known objects.

Abstract: A single-shaft dual expansion internal combustion engine is described, and includes an engine block including first and second power cylinders and an expander cylinder fluidly coupled through a cylinder head, and first and second power pistons that connect to respective first and second crankpins of the crankshaft. A multi-link connecting rod assembly includes a rigid main arm extending orthogonally to a longitudinal axis of the crankshaft and supporting a first pivot pin, a second pivot pin and a third pivot pin. The first pivot pin connects via a connecting rod to an expander piston reciprocating in the third cylinder. A third crankpin of the crankshaft serves as the second pivot pin and has a throw that is located 180 degrees of rotation of the crankshaft from a throw of the first crankpin. The third pivot pin connects to a swing arm connected to the engine block.

Abstract: An engine assembly includes an oil pan having an oil pan body. The oil pan body includes an inner pan surface defining a cavity configured to collect oil and an outer pan surface opposite the inner pan surface. Further, the oil pan includes a dividing wall disposed within the cavity and coupled to the oil pan body. The dividing wall divides the cavity into a first compartment and a second compartment. The oil pan defines an opening extending through the dividing wall. A valve is disposed in the opening and can move between an open position and a closed position. When the valve is in the open position, the first compartment is in fluid communication with the second compartment. When the valve is in the closed position, the valve blocks fluid flow between the first compartment and the second compartment via the opening.

Abstract: A single-shaft dual expansion internal combustion engine includes first and second power cylinders and an expander cylinder. The cylinder head fluidly couples the first and second power cylinders and the expander cylinder. First and second power pistons reciprocate in the first and second power cylinders and connect to a first crankpin of the crankshaft. A multi-link connecting rod assembly includes a rigid main arm supporting a first pivot pin, a second pivot pin and a third pivot pin. The first pivot pin connects to an expander piston reciprocating in the third cylinder. The third pivot pin couples to a first end of a swing arm, and a second end of the swing arm rotatably couples to a fourth pivot pin that couples to a distal end of a rotating arm that attaches to a rotating shaft coupled to rotation of the crankshaft.