Abstract: A valve assembly includes a shuttle reversibly translatable with respect to an axis. The shuttle defines an at least first outlet port, an at least second outlet port spaced apart from the at least first outlet port, and an inlet port. The valve assembly includes an actuator configured for translating the shuttle with respect to the axis between a first position in which the at least first outlet port and the inlet port are disposed in fluid communication, and a second position in which the at least second outlet port and the inlet port are disposed in fluid communication. The actuator is formed from a shape memory alloy transitionable between a first state and a second state in response to a thermal activation signal. A washer system, a device, and a method of alternately washing one of a first component and a second component of the device are disclosed.

Abstract: A fastening arrangement is disclosed for mounting a decorative cover or a window guide on a vehicle door having a material section associated with a decorative cover or a window guide and another material section is associated with a vehicle door. A connector configured as a connection clip connects the material sections. The connection clip positions the material sections in a form-fitting manner relative to one another in at least one direction.

Abstract: A shield and clip assembly is provided for use with a joint that connects the ends of pipes conveying a fluid under pressure. The joint includes a primary retention feature for retaining the connected pipe ends. The shield and clip assembly includes a cover configured to encapsulate the joint and the ends of the pipes sufficiently to ensure that the connected ends will not fully disengage from the joint and to ensure that leakage or spray, if any, of the fluid being conveyed from a leaking joint will be attenuated or shielded. The joint may be an in-line quick connector joint.

Abstract: A network includes vehicle(s) having a battery pack and vehicle telematics unit (VTU), and a server. A server in communication with the VTUs and remote client device(s) is programmed to receive vehicle information from the VTU, including an energy throughput value defined by charging power delivered to the battery pack during an active charging event. The server receives utility information and a load adjustment request from the remote client device, including a power interrupt permission status describing whether interruption of power by a host of the client device is permitted. Charging control signals are transmitted in response to the load adjustment request to enable or postpone the charging event. Energy throughput is recorded over multiple active charging events, which are then combined or aggregated. Output data, e.g., a bill or report describing the aggregated energy throughput values, may be generated by the server. A method and server are also disclosed.

Abstract: A notification system for a vehicle assembly process at an assembly plant includes a base unit of a vehicle at the assembly plant and a first component coupled to the base unit at a station in the assembly plant to further define the vehicle. A tag is coupled to one of the base unit and the first component. A reader is disposed downstream from the station at the assembly plant. The reader is configured to detect if the tag is coupled to one of the base unit and the first component when the vehicle is scanned by the reader. Furthermore, a method of notifying a user during the vehicle assembly process at the assembly plant includes scanning the vehicle, via the reader that is disposed downstream from the station at the assembly plant, to detect if the tag is coupled to one of the base unit and the first component.

Abstract: A notification system for an assembly process at an assembly plant includes a base unit of part of a product at the assembly plant and a first component coupled to the base unit at a station in the assembly plant to further define the product. A tag is coupled to one of the base unit and the first component. A reader is disposed downstream from the station at the assembly plant. The reader is configured to detect if the tag is coupled to one of the base unit and the first component when the product is scanned by the reader. Furthermore, a method of notifying a user during the assembly process at the assembly plant includes scanning the product, via the reader that is disposed downstream from the station at the assembly plant, to detect if the tag is coupled to one of the base unit and the first component.

Abstract: A valve manifold includes a housing defining an inlet port and a plurality of outlet ports. Each of the plurality of outlet ports defines a sealing face. The manifold also includes a plurality of poppets, wherein each of the plurality of poppets is disposed within a respective one of the plurality of outlet ports and is configured for translating towards and away from the sealing face. The manifold also includes a plurality of actuators each configured for translating a respective one of the plurality of poppets towards and away from the sealing face, wherein each of the plurality of actuators is formed from a shape memory alloy transitionable between a first state and a second state in response to a thermal activation signal. A washer system, a device, and a method of simultaneously controlling fluid flow to a first component and a second component of the device are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for controlling operation of a multi-mode powertrain system includes periodically determining a power cost difference between a first power cost and a second power cost. This includes determining the first power cost associated with operating the powertrain system with the engine operating in a presently commanded engine state in response to an operator torque request and determining the second power cost associated with an expected powertrain operation with the engine operating in a non-commanded engine state in response to the operator torque request. The first power cost is compared with the second power cost, and successive iterations of the periodically determined power cost difference between the first power cost and the second power cost are integrated to determine an integrated power cost difference. A transition to the non-commanded engine state is commanded when the integrated power cost difference is greater than a threshold.

Abstract: A component for a motor vehicle includes a plastic part to which a heat shield is fastened. A projection extends into a hole in the heat shield and is reshaped to form a rivet connection having a rivet heat that hooks with the heat shield. A protruding attachment is provided on the rivet head for fastening a covering element.

Abstract: A switch device for a panel element of a motor vehicle includes a first housing part arranged in or on the panel element. A second housing part, which is preferably disk-shaped or plate-shaped, is movable relative to the first housing part, particularly rotatable about a rotational axis. A switching element is arranged in a hollow space formed between the first and second housing parts and either directly or indirectly abuts on the first housing part. The switching element can be actuated due to the motion of the second housing part relative to the first housing part along an actuating direction. A sealing device features a first seal extensively overlapping the switching element transverse and/or oblique to the actuating direction at least on the side facing away from the first housing part.

Abstract: A battery system may include a plurality of subdivisions, such as battery cells or sub-packs. A measurement system configured to determine a subdivision electrical parameter associated with each of a plurality of subdivisions. A battery control may identify a subdivision satisfying a criterion based on the plurality of subdivision electrical parameters. According to some embodiments, the battery control system may determine a ratio of the subdivision electrical parameter of the identified subdivision to the electrical parameter of the battery pack. The ratio may be used to scale the electrical parameter associated with the battery pack by the ratio. According to other embodiments, the subdivision electrical parameter associated with the identified subdivision may be provided to a battery state estimation system. The scaled electrical parameter or the electrical parameter associated with the identified subdivision may be used by a battery state estimation system to generate an estimated battery state.

Abstract: A system for controlling motion of a shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator includes a damper operatively connectable to the SMA actuator and having a movable portion that moves with the SMA actuator when the SMA actuator contracts during electrical activation. An electronic switch is operatively connectable to the SMA actuator and to the damper. The electronic switch has an open position preventing electrical power flow to the SMA actuator, and a closed position permitting electrical power flow to the SMA actuator. A biasing element applies a biasing force that urges the electronic switch to the closed position. The damper overcomes the biasing element to move the switch to the open position only when velocity of the movable portion equals or exceeds a predetermined threshold velocity, and to return to the closed position when the velocity of the movable portion falls below the predetermined threshold velocity.

Abstract: A product including a section stabilizer which may be inserted into a hollow section of a vehicle body and rotated into place which may add reinforcement to the area.

Abstract: A method is provided for producing a support structure, preferably a support structure for a vehicle seat having at least one seat shell for the seat part and/or the backrest of the vehicle seat, having the following method steps of producing a metal semi-finished product and reshaping it into an essentially flat plate, detaching a plate part from the plate, and deforming the plate part, the production of the metal semi-finished product being performed by extrusion. The semi-finished product may be already formed into a flat plate by the extrusion or the extrusion is performed with production of a curved plate, which is subsequently reshaped into a flat plate.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for monitoring and controlling a flow of air within a fuel cell stack. The fuel cell stack may include an air supply path to conduct a flow of air through the fuel cell. Sensors may be configured to determine parameters associated with the air supply path, such as pressure, flow rate, etc. A modeling system may further be configured to determine a modeled parameter associated with the air supply path. A control system may receive input from the one or more sensors and the modeling system to generate a baseline based on the measured parameter and the modeled parameter, determine a difference between the measured parameter and the modeled parameter, determine a change of the difference with respect to the baseline, determine that the change satisfies a criterion, and selectively implement a corrective action based upon satisfaction of the criterion.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine is configured to operate in a homogeneous-charge compression-ignition combustion mode. A method for operating the internal combustion engine includes determining a desired effective charge dilution for a cylinder charge for a cylinder firing event. A desired air/fuel ratio, a desired intake air mass and a desired intake oxygen are determined to achieve the desired effective charge dilution for a combustion event. The desired air/fuel ratio is adjusted based upon a difference between the desired intake oxygen and the actual intake oxygen, and engine operation is controlled to achieve the adjusted desired air/fuel ratio.

Abstract: A system for estimating daytime visibility conditions includes a camera configured to capture a video sequence over a period time, an odometry sensor configured to monitor motion of the camera, and a video processing unit in communication with the camera and with the odometry sensor. The video processing unit is configured to receive the video sequence from the camera, detect an object within the video sequence, estimate a distance between the camera and the object for each frame of the video sequence, determine a mean perceived brightness of the object for each image frame, and estimate an ambient visibility using the estimated distance and mean perceived brightness of the object.

Abstract: Vehicles, computer-implemented methods, systems and apparatus are disclosed for providing application generated information for presentation at an automotive head unit (AHU) of a vehicle. For example, a vehicle is provided that is configured to communicate with an application server. The application server hosts and executes an application to generate information. The application server provides a first part of a MirrorLink server since the application hosted at the application server is normally hosted at and designed to be executed by a consumer electronics device to generate the information, and the information is normally presented at the consumer electronics device. The vehicle includes a network access device (NAD) integrated within the vehicle and an AHU that communicatively coupled to the NAD. The AHU includes a human-machine-interface (HMI). The NAD includes a wireless communication interface that serves as a second part of the MirrorLink server.

Abstract: Systems and methods for arbitrating spoken dialog services include determining a capability catalog associated with a plurality of devices accessible within an environment. The capability catalog includes a list of the plurality of devices mapped to a list of spoken dialog services provided by each of the plurality of devices. The system arbitrates between the plurality of devices and the spoken dialog services in the capability catalog to determine a selected device and a selected dialog service.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a rotor assembly includes assembling shorting end rings onto conductor bars through a steel laminate stack. The ends of the steel laminate stack are immersed into a bath containing molten metal.