Abstract: Systems, apparatus and methods for controlling a plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) to improve energy utilization based on vehicle-to-internet cloud (V2C) connectivity. An automated driving system is trained for predicting vehicle motion trajectories based on historical vehicle and environmental trip data. An automated powertrain control system is trained to provide a parametric approximation of long-term energy cost about the remainder of a given vehicle trip. During the trip the automated driving system plans estimated trajectories based on forecasts of power allocation, while the powertrain control system forecasts and controls the fuel burning engine, electric drive motor(s), and powertrain mode, to minimize energy-wasteful motion trajectories.

Abstract: A system includes: at least one resistive humidity sensor disposed on a window of a vehicle and configured to detect a presence of fog formed on a surface of the window and to output a signal indicating whether the presence of fog formed on the surface of the window has been detected; a defogging unit equipped in the vehicle and configured to defog the window of the vehicle; and a controller coupled to the at least one resistive humidity sensor and the defogging unit and configured to receive the signal from the at least one resistive humidity sensor, to determine whether fog has formed on the surface of the window based on the received signal, and to actuate the defogging unit when it is determined that fog has formed on the surface of the window.

Abstract: An electromagnetic field controlling system and method are provided. The electromagnetic field controlling system includes a magnetic field sensor that is disposed proximate to or in a vehicle that charges electric power using a wireless charging system and is configured to detect the magnitude of an electromagnetic field. An output controller adjusts output power in a power transmission side of the wireless charging system based on a comparison between a predetermined value for an electromagnetic field and the magnitude of the electromagnetic field detected by the magnetic field sensor. Accordingly, the magnitude of an electromagnetic field output from a vehicle wireless charging system is controlled within a safe range.

Abstract: An integrated extend bed assembly for a vehicle is provided. The extended bed assembly includes a bed assembly that is mounted at a rear of the vehicle and a bed extension that is slidably fitted into the bed assembly. The bed extension is extendable rearward of the bed assembly in a linear motion. Additionally, sliding members are mounted to the bed assembly and the bed extension to support the bed extension in an extended position.

Abstract: A method for forming a three-dimensionally (3D) printed flexible support apparatus includes: producing arrays of V-spring elements using a 3D printing system, each array including a plurality of V-spring elements arranged in a predefined array shape, and each V-spring element having a predefined firmness or hysteresis characteristic; arranging the arrays of V-spring elements in at least one two-dimensional (2D) array grid using the 3D printing system, such that at least one V-spring element of each array is attached to a V-spring element of at least one adjacent array; and shaping the at least one array grid according to a predefined volume to form the support apparatus.

Abstract: A method includes: establishing a dynamic target temperature range for a seat of a vehicle having a seat heating unit installed therein, the dynamic target temperature range defined by an adjustable minimum and maximum target temperature; activating a seat heating mode of multiple predefined seat heating modes based on an interior climate of the vehicle; defining the minimum target temperature and the maximum target temperature according to the activated seat heating mode; and controlling the seat heating unit such that a temperature of the seat continuously oscillates within the defined minimum target temperature and the defined maximum target temperature.

Abstract: A method includes: sensing light information reflecting from an eye of a driver of a vehicle using an optical sensor mounted in the vehicle; measuring, by a control unit equipped in the vehicle, a plurality of eye parameters based on the sensed light information; calculating, by the control unit, an endangerment score indicating a driving state of the driver according to the plurality of eye parameters; determining, by the control unit, whether the calculated endangerment score exceeds an endangerment threshold; and executing, by the control unit, a corrective action in response to determining that the calculated endangerment score exceeds the endangerment threshold.

Abstract: A method includes: detecting a position of a moving, wireless charging-capable vehicle which travels over a primary coil of a wireless charging system operable to wirelessly charge the vehicle via a secondary coil installed in the vehicle; controlling the plurality of cross-coil junction units such that electric current flows through one or both of the top coil and the bottom coil in a manner which produces a first angle of magnetic flux for optimally wirelessly charging the vehicle given a position of the primary coil in relation to the detected position of the vehicle; and when a switching time occurs, controlling the plurality of cross-coil junction units to change the flow of electric current through one or both of the top coil and the bottom coil in a manner which produces a second angle of magnetic flux for optimally wirelessly charging the vehicle given the position of the primary coil in relation to an updated position of the vehicle as the vehicle traverses the primary coil.

Abstract: A method for pairing a wireless charging system to a vehicle, includes: determining location coordinates of a target position of a vehicle parking space within a parking lot; storing the location coordinates of a center of the parking space; receiving a signal including location coordinates of the vehicle; and determining a location match using the location coordinates of the center of the parking space and the location coordinates of the vehicle to pair the wireless charging system to the vehicle.

Abstract: A steering column system of a vehicle includes: a rotatable, hollow steering shaft that has a proximal end attached to a steering wheel and is configured to transfer rotational input at the steering wheel to a steering rack of the vehicle; a stationary driver-side airbag (DAB) shaft that is surrounded by the steering shaft and extends along the steering shaft; and a DAB module that contains an airbag and is fixedly mounted to a proximal end of the DAB shaft within a region of the steering wheel. The airbag contained in the DAB module is formed to have a substantially circular center chamber and a pair of side extension chambers, one of the side extension chambers disposed on a right side of the center chamber, and the other of the side extension chambers disposed on a left side of the center chamber.

Abstract: An assembly and method are provided for detecting an object within a wireless charging region of an electric vehicle. The method includes applying by a controller, a voltage to the wireless charging region to generate a capacitance value and measuring by the controller, the capacitance value of an electromagnetic shield disposed on the underside of the vehicle. Further, the controller monitors the capacitance value of the electromagnetic shield; and the controller detects a change in the capacitance value when the object enters the wireless charging region.

Abstract: A seat device for a vehicle includes: a seat cushion and a seat base of a rear row seat, the seat base mounted on a floor of a vehicle standing upward from the floor and forming a support structure of the seat cushion; a movable cushion portion forming a sitting surface for a passenger; a seat-cushion-moving mechanism to rotate and translate the movable cushion portion so that the movable cushion portion moves between a seating position, an extended position, and a tray position. In particular, a passenger sits on the movable cushion portion in the seating position, the movable cushion portion rotates away from the seat base in the forward direction to expose a lower side of the movable cushion portion in the extended position, and the tray position is obtained when the movable cushion portion translates rearwardly from the extended position with the lower side remaining exposed.

Abstract: A method includes: receiving, at a host vehicle, Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) messages transmitted using V2V communication from one or more remote vehicles; identifying at least one vehicle of the one or more remote vehicles that is ahead of the host vehicle based on information included in the received V2V messages; selecting V2V messages among the received V2V messages that were received from the at least one identified vehicle; and controlling a powertrain system of the host vehicle based on information included in the selected V2V messages.

Abstract: A method includes detecting that a wireless charging-capable vehicle is in a charging position proximate a primary coil of a wireless charging system that is operable to wirelessly charge the vehicle via a secondary coil installed in the vehicle. The primary coil includes a top coil and a bottom coil that are substantially parallel to one another, the top coil and the bottom coil coupled to one another via a plurality of cross-coil junction units each including a switching element that routes electric current through at least a portion of one or more of the top coil and the bottom coil. The method further includes setting the switching elements such that current flowing through the primary coil produces an optimal angle of magnetic flux for wirelessly charging the vehicle given a position of the primary coil with respect to a position of the secondary coil, and causing electric current to flow through the primary coil according to the set switching elements to wirelessly charge the vehicle.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to the field of electric vehicles (EV) that run, at least in part, on an electric motor. Included on the EV is an on board charger (OBC) responsible for charging a battery supply based on electronic power received from a source. The OBC is configured to detect certain voltage or current characteristics during a charging operation of the battery supply, and adjust allowed operational limits for the OBC accordingly.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine having a fuel injector, a piston chamber, a piston slidably disposed in the piston chamber having a piston crown along a top surface, a head assembly having at least one pre-chamber separate from the piston chamber and in fluid communication with the piston chamber via at least one connecting orifice, and an ignition device disposed in the pre-chamber for igniting a fuel air mixture within the pre-chamber, thereby producing an ignition jet being introduced into the piston chamber via the at least one connecting orifice to ignite a fuel/air mixture in the piston chamber. The fuel/air mixture is passively introduced into the at least one pre-chamber during at least a compression stroke of the piston.

Abstract: A steering column system includes: a rotatable steering shaft that has a proximal end attached to a steering wheel and is configured to transfer rotational input at the steering wheel to a steering rack of the vehicle; a stationary driver-side airbag (DAB) shaft that is mounted in the vehicle and extends along the steering shaft; and a DAB module that contains an airbag and is fixedly mounted to a proximal end of the DAB shaft within a region of the steering wheel. The steering wheel and the steering shaft are configured to rotate independently of the DAB module and the DAB shaft, respectively.

Abstract: A method includes: receiving vehicle information from a wireless charging-capable vehicle via a wireless communication means; calculating an air gap between a primary coil of a wireless charging system that is operable to wirelessly charge the vehicle and a secondary coil of the vehicle based on the received vehicle information; and causing electric current to flow only through a portion of the primary coil having a size that is less than or equal to a size of the entire primary coil. The size of the portion of the primary coil through which the electric current flows is determined based on the calculated air gap between the primary coil and the secondary coil.

Abstract: A safety system for an automotive vehicle includes: a dedicated radio to receive and transmit state data between a host vehicle and a remote vehicle; a global positioning system (GPS) receiver; an on-board unit (OBE) to perform a vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communications so that the host vehicle receives state data of the remove vehicle in a basic safety message (BSM) format; and a safety control unit. In particular, the safety control unit receives the state data of the host and remote vehicles, calculates a separation distance, a prediction horizon time, and then compares the prediction horizon time with a driver reaction time to generate a warning to a driver. More specifically, the safety control unit performs a cost value procedure when a deducted prediction horizon time is greater than zero to determine variable coefficients for estimating a future position and speed of the host and remote vehicles.

Abstract: A safety system for an automotive vehicle includes: a dedicated radio to receive and transmit state data between a host vehicle and a remote vehicle; a global positioning system (GPS) receiver; an on-board unit (OBE) to perform a vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communications so that the host vehicle receives state data of the remove vehicle in a basic safety message (BSM) format; and a safety control unit. In particular, the safety control unit receives the state data of the host and remote vehicles, calculates a separation distance, a prediction horizon time, and then compares the prediction horizon time with a driver reaction time to generate a warning to a driver. More specifically, the safety control unit performs a cost value procedure when a deducted prediction horizon time is greater than zero to determine variable coefficients for estimating a future position and speed of the host and remote vehicles.