Abstract: A vehicle includes a body that extends along a longitudinal axis. The body includes a front fascia and a forward load bearing beam that are disposed transverse to the longitudinal axis. A load distribution mechanism is rotatably attached to the forward load bearing beam for rotation about a rotation axis. The load distribution mechanism includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is for engaging an upper portion of the front fascia, above the forward load bearing beam. The second portion is for engaging a lower portion of the front fascia, below the forward load bearing beam. The front fascia engages the first portion and the second portion of the load distribution mechanism, and the load distribution mechanism rotates about the rotation axis, to control displacement of the front fascia in response to an applied force in which an object contacts the front fascia.

Abstract: An example of the coated tool disclosed herein includes a substrate, a metal layer established on the substrate, a continuous metal carbide layer established on the metal layer, and a smooth, continuous, terminated diamond like carbon (DLC) layer established on the metal carbide layer. The DLC layer is to prevent metal, from a workpiece upon which the tool is to act, from adhering to the tool.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for thermal management of a battery cell or a battery assembly including a plurality of battery cells. One or more fins are in thermal contact with one or more battery cells. A fluid is caused to flow from a high pressure side of a plenum fluidly coupled to each fin, through a cavity in each fin, and back to a low pressure side of the plenum. The fins are fluidly coupled to the plenum using flexible connections that can accommodate movement of the fins with respect to the plenum.

Abstract: A portable device recharging system includes a base unit generating an electromagnetic field. A portable device includes a rechargeable battery inductively charged by the electromagnetic field. Spacers are disposed between the portable device and the base unit. The spacers support the portable device and maintain an air gap between the base unit and the portable device.

Abstract: An after-treatment component for receiving an exhaust stream from an internal combustion engine comprises a vessel having a first end, a second end, and an intermediate section. The vessel defines an inlet port and an outlet port. The inlet port is in fluid communication with an inlet diffuser disposed within the vessel. The inlet diffuser is in fluid communication with the inlet port and with a diesel oxidation catalyst disposed within the vessel. The diesel oxidation catalyst is in fluid communication with the inlet diffuser and with a transfer duct. The transfer duct is in fluid communication with the diesel oxidation catalyst and with an intermediate diffuser disposed within the vessel. The intermediate diffuser is in fluid communication with the transfer duct and with a catalyzed filter disposed within the vessel. The catalyzed filter is in fluid communication with the intermediate diffuser and with the outlet port.

Abstract: A porous interlayer for a lithium-sulfur battery includes an electronic component and a negatively charged or chargeable lithium ion conducting component. The electronic component is selected from a carbon material, a conductive polymeric material, and combinations thereof. In an example, the porous interlayer may be disposed between a sulfur-based positive electrode and a porous polymer separator in a lithium-sulfur battery. In another example, the porous interlayer may be formed on a surface of a porous polymer separator.

Abstract: Apparatus for protecting battery cells. In some embodiments, a battery may comprise a series of battery cells and one or more protective plates positioned between the adjacent battery cells. In some embodiments, the plates may also be configured to provide a cooling function relative to adjacent battery cells. The plate(s) may comprise a first section and a second section coupled with the first section. The plate may be configured to fail under predetermined conditions such that, upon experiencing the predetermined conditions, at least a portion of the second section is configured to separate from at least a portion of the first section.

Abstract: A redundant computing architecture includes a first control unit, a second control unit, and a switch. The first control unit is configured to provide a first control signal in response to a sensory input and is further configured to provide a health status indicator that is indicative of a fault condition within the first control unit. Additionally, the second control unit is configured to provide a second control signal in response to the sensory input. Each of the first and second control signals is respectively operative to control an actuator. The switch is configured to: receive the health status indicator, the first control signal, and second control signal; provide the first control signal to the actuator if this health status indicator does not indicate a fault: and provide the second control signal to the actuator if this health status indicator does indicate a fault.

Abstract: A method of making an ion conducting membrane includes a step of reacting a compound having formula 1 with a polymer having polymer segment 2: to form a copolymer having polymer segment 2 and polymer segment 3: and The copolymer having polymer segment 2 and polymer segment 3 are then formed into an ion conducting membrane, wherein Z is a C6-80 aliphatic, polyether, or perfluoropolyether; Y is a divalent linking group; E0 is a hydrocarbon-containing moiety; Q1 is a perfluorocyclobutyl moiety; P1, P2 are each independently absent, —O—, —S—, —SO—, —CO—, —SO2—, —NH—, NR2—, or —R3—; R2 is C1-25 alkyl, C1-25 aryl or C1-25 arylene; and R3 is C1-25 alkylene, C1-25 perfluoroalkylene, perfluoroalkyl ether, alkylether, or C1-25 arylene.

Abstract: A method of controlling a transmission of a vehicle equipped with an electronic transmission range select system includes receiving an electronic request to actuate a transmission park system. A speed of the vehicle is sensed with each of a plurality of different speed sensors to define a plurality of different sensed vehicle speeds. Each of the plurality of different speed sensors provides a sensed vehicle speed that is independent and separate from the sensed vehicle speed from all of the other speed sensors. All of the different sensed vehicle speeds from the plurality of speed sensors is compared to each other to determine the lowest sensed vehicle speed. When the lowest sensed vehicle speed is equal to or less than a maximum allowable actuation speed, an electronic signal is sent from the transmission control unit to the transmission park system to actuate the transmission park system.

Abstract: A suspension assembly between a sprung element and an unsprung element includes load-carrying spring arranged in parallel with a negative stiffness element between the sprung element and the unsprung element. The spring is configured with a positive spring rate to support a static load of the sprung element. The negative stiffness element is configured with a negative spring rate and to exert a force opposing the spring rate of the spring. The negative spring rate has a magnitude that cancels the positive spring rate at a zero deflection point of the suspension assembly.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and systems are provided for programming a vehicle module. An exemplary vehicle includes a first module, a gateway module communicatively coupled to the first module, and an update module communicatively coupled to the gateway module. The update module is configured to provide authorization information and programming data to the gateway module. The gateway module is configured to verify that programming of the first module is authorized based at least in part on the authorization information and provide the programming data to the first module after verifying that the programming of the first module is authorized.

Abstract: A method of controlling a transmission includes determining if the transmission is currently executing a first torque controlled shift from a first gear ratio to a second gear ratio. A torque controlled shift is defined as a shift control operation in which the speed of the engine is controlled to perform a shift operation. When a second torque controlled shift is detected while the transmission is currently executing the first torque controlled shift, a dual torque controlled shift strategy is executed, which merges a first shift control strategy for executing the first torque controlled shift with a second shift control strategy for executing the second torque controlled shift. The dual torque controlled shift strategy seamlessly executes the first torque controlled shift and the second torque controlled shift without a time delay and engine torque disruption therebetween.

Abstract: A powertrain for a vehicle is disclosed. The powertrain includes an engine, a motor-generator and a starter mechanism. The powertrain also includes a first energy storage device disposed in a parallel electrical relationship with a motor-generator and an auxiliary electric system. Additionally, the powertrain includes a first switching device selectively transitionable between a first open state to electrically disconnect the first energy storage device from at least one of the motor-generator and the auxiliary electric system, and a first closed state to electrically connect the first energy storage device to at least one of the motor-generator and the auxiliary electric system. Electrical communication between the motor-generator and the auxiliary electric system is independent of the first switching device being in the first open and closed states.

Abstract: A method of controlling an exhaust gas treatment system of a vehicle includes detecting a request to regenerate a particulate filter, and injecting hydrocarbons at an injection rate into a flow of exhaust gas upstream of an oxidation catalyst to heat the oxidation catalyst. The injection rate is increased at a current acceleration rate, and the current acceleration rate is reduced to define a reduced acceleration rate when the oxidation catalyst is quenched.

Abstract: A device includes a plurality of tires and a suspension system as subcomponents. The suspension system includes at least one suspension sensor configured to provide suspension data (S). A controller is operatively connected to the suspension sensor. The controller has a processor and tangible, non-transitory memory on which is recorded instructions for executing a method for determining respective tire normal forces (Fzi(t), i=1 . . . 4) for one or more of the plurality of tires, based at least partially on the suspension data (S). The tire normal force (Fz) is the net force acting on each tire (or wheel) in the vertical direction. The tire normal force acting on each tire may be determined without using the specific model of the tire, road information, wheel or tire sensors.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a method for manufacturing a sandwich sheet (15) with the steps of: making available an unprocessed sandwich sheet (9) with a first metal sheet (10), a second metal sheet (11) and a plastic layer (12), in which the plastic layer (12) is arranged between the two metal sheets (10, 11), locally heating the metal sheet (10, 11) and locally heating the plastic layer (12) in a local connecting region (14), deforming the metal sheet (10, 11) in the local connecting region (14) such that the heated plastic layer (12) is displaced between the two metal sheets (10, 11) in the local connecting region (14) and the two metal sheets (10, 11) are contacted in the local connecting region (14), and welding together the first and the second metal sheet (10, 11) in the local connecting region (14), in which the two metal sheets (10, 11) were contacted, such that the two metal sheets (10, 11) are connected to one another by means of a welded joint (16) in the local connecting region (14), wherein a tool

Abstract: A driver assistance system enables accelerate awareness of a danger source by the driver of a motor vehicle. The driver assistance system includes a display field that, from the viewpoint of the driver, is larger than a primary field of vision, which can be scanned without eye movement on the part of the vehicle driver. The driver assistance system also includes a control unit for displaying signs at different locations in the display field, and a hazard detection unit for detecting at least the direction in which a hazard outside the vehicle is located from the viewpoint of the driver. The control unit is configured to first display a preliminary signal in a preferred direction from the viewpoint of the driver, and then to display at least a first follow-up signal in an intermediate direction between the preferred direction and the direction in which the danger source is located.

Abstract: A metal sheet that features a substructure of a first aluminum alloy and at least one reinforcement that is pressed into at least one surface of the substructure, wherein the reinforcement has in at least a direction extending parallel to the surface a large extent in relation to the thickness of the metal sheet and consists of a second aluminum alloy that is harder than the first aluminum alloy.

Abstract: A powertrain for a vehicle includes an engine and a method of assembling the powertrain includes providing the engine. A starter mechanism is selectively operable to start the engine. A motor-generator includes an adapter to dispose the motor-generator and the starter mechanism in alternative assembly configurations being a first assembly configuration and a second assembly configuration. The first assembly configuration is when the starter mechanism is coupleable to the adapter to selectively transfer torque from the motor-generator through the adapter and the starter mechanism to start the engine. The second assembly configuration is when the starter mechanism is spaced from the adapter to operate independently of the motor-generator such that the starter mechanism selectively transfers torque to start the engine.