Abstract: A system for variable actuation of an engine valve of an engine includes a master piston driven by a cam of a camshaft. A slave piston is driven by the master piston by a volume of pressurized fluid. The slave piston causes the engine valve to open, against the action of a spring. A control valve controls a communication between pressurized fluid and an environment at lower pressure, with which a fluid accumulator is in communication. A control unit is programmed for controlling the control valve according to one or more different valve modes. When one of these valve modes is actuated, the control valve opens the communication in advance with respect to the end of the lift cycle of the cam, and not after closing of the engine valve to prevent or reduce a decrease in pressure in the volume of pressurized fluid after closing of the engine valve.

Abstract: A fuel saving-aimed motor vehicle driver assistance system configured to receive and process motor vehicle-related data and motor vehicle position-related data to identify recurrent routes of a motor vehicle and to provide a motor vehicle driver, via an automotive human-machine interface, with motor vehicle driving assistance recommendations for fuel saving along the routes. The motor vehicle driver assistance system is configured to identify recurrent routes of the motor vehicle by determining a succession of geographic points, referred to as Waypoints, along a route of the motor vehicle, at which values of a series of physical quantities are determined and recorded, which define the attributes of the Waypoints. The Waypoint attributes are then updated when the vehicle travels through them.

Abstract: An air outlet device has a supporting structure suitable for communicating, in use, with an air ventilation system, and an outlet member that is configured so as to supply an air flow along an outlet axis and is coupled to the supporting structure so as to rotate by 180° about a joint axis orthogonal to the outlet axis, to assume two opposite configurations. The outlet member comprises a plurality of deflecting walls defining a plurality of air ducts, which are arranged about the outlet axis and distributed axially in sequence. The deflecting walls are shaped and/or positioned so as to guide the air in the air ducts in directions having a radial component. At least one of the deflecting walls has a series of through-holes made in positions that are spaced apart about the outlet axis.

Abstract: A hybrid powertrain unit comprises an engine and a gearbox device with a primary shaft connectable to a shaft of the engine via a clutch device. The gearbox device comprises a secondary shaft with an output pinion meshing with a first crown wheel of a differential, the casing of which is rigidly connected to a casing of the gearbox device. The unit comprises an electric machine configured to operate as an electric motor and as an electric generator, and having a shaft connected by a transmission to a second crown wheel of the differential. In the transmission, arranged between the electric machine shaft and the second crown wheel is an engagement device that can be operated via an electronically controlled actuator. The transmission that connects the electric machine shaft to said second crown wheel includes an auxiliary shift device configured for providing at least two different selectable transmission ratios.

Abstract: A module for monitoring industrial processes for use in a system for monitoring industrial processes that comprises sensor means (7; 17) for detecting process quantities in a process station (20), acquisition means (8, 32; 32?; 32?) for acquiring measurement signals (R) issued by said sensor means (7; 17), processing means (9; 19) operating on signals (T; T1) generated by said acquisition means (8, 32; 32?; 32?) to obtain information on the quality of the process, and means for managing the production flow (9; 19), which operate on the basis of said information on the quality of the process and are located in a workstation (50) that is remote with respect to said process station, said monitoring module (30) being configured for being set locally at said at least one process station (20) for receiving measurement signals (R) issued by said sensor means (7; 17).

Abstract: Described herein is a gearbox for a motor vehicle including a plurality of forward gear ratios and a reverse gear ratio, the gearbox further including: a control device (configured for controlling the selection and the engagement of said forward gear ratios and of said reverse gear ratio; and a plurality of engagement devices that can be controlled by means of said control device for engaging the forward gear ratios or reverse gear ratio (RM) of the gearbox that are operatively associated to said devices. The gearbox includes a locking device, which is electrically controlled and configured for preventing actuation of the engagement device associated to a predetermined forward gear ratio, said locking device being configured for being actuated above a threshold speed of the motor vehicle on which said gearbox is installed.

Abstract: A system for variable actuation of an engine valve of an internal-combustion engine includes a master piston and a slave piston, driven by the master piston. A control valve controls a communication of a volume of a pressurized fluid with a lower pressure environment, which is connected to a fluid accumulator, and an electronic control unit controls the electrically operated control valve. A device for dampening pressure oscillations is connected to the volume of pressurized fluid and includes an additional volume adapted for receiving fluid from the volume of pressurized fluid only when, following upon oscillations of the pressure in the volume of pressurized fluid, the pressure exceeds a maximum threshold value, which is higher than a mean pressure value that is set up in the volume of pressurized fluid when the master piston drives the slave piston in normal operating conditions.

Abstract: An automotive air conditioning system comprising: an air cooling circuit including a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve and an evaporator; an air heating circuit, including a flow rate regulation solenoid valve arranged to regulate the flow rate of a heat transfer fluid through the heater; and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to receive a measured evaporator air temperature and a set cabin air temperature and to switch the operating condition of the compressor when the measured evaporator air temperature is higher or lower than at least one on/off threshold temperature computed based on the set cabin air temperature.

Abstract: A method for locating a tool for industrial operations that is positioned in a sequence of operating points of an operating sequence associated to different positions on a component on which work is to be carried out, includes associating a light source to the tool and at least three light sources identifying a position reference triplet fixed with respect to the component. A stereovision apparatus having at least two video cameras acquires at least two respective images of the tool and component. The displacement of the operating points on the component is tracked when carrying out an industrial operation on the component by recognizing positions of the reference triplet and a point of the light source of the tool calculating the position of the operating points of an operating sequence with reference to the position assumed by the reference triplet and evaluating the position of the tool with respect to the calculated position of the operating points.

Abstract: A hybrid powertrain unit comprises an engine and a gearbox device with a primary shaft that can be connected to a shaft of the engine via a clutch. The gearbox device comprises a secondary shaft with an output pinion meshing with a first crown wheel of a differential, the casing of which is rigidly connected to a casing of the gearbox device. An electric machine of the unit is configured to function as electric motor and an electric generator, having a shaft connected by a transmission to a second crown wheel of the differential. In the transmission, which is arranged between the electric machine shaft and the second crown wheel is an engagement device that can be driven via an actuator. The electric machine shaft is connected to the engine shaft on a side opposite of the gearbox device. The transmission includes a gear-reduction jump constituted by a belt transmission.

Abstract: A hybrid powertrain unit comprises an engine and a gearbox with a primary shaft connectable to an engine shaft via a clutch and a secondary shaft with an output pinion meshing with a first differential crown wheel. An electric machine is configured to function as an electric motor and generator, having a shaft connected by a transmission to a second differential crown wheel. The transmission, arranged between the electric machine shaft and the second crown wheel includes a first engagement device. The electric machine shaft is connected to the engine shaft by a belt transmission including a belt engaged on a first pulley connected to the electric machine shaft and a second pulley connected to the engine shaft. Between the electric machine shaft and said first pulley is a second engagement device. The engagement devices are arranged coaxially with the electric machine shaft on opposite sides of the electric machine.

Abstract: A method for the manufacture of a component for a motor-vehicle interior with an associated film in which an electronic circuit is integrated with at least one proximity sensor includes the step of thermoforming the film on a mold element and the step of injection of plastic material in a mold cavity in such a way as to obtain a component for interior of motor-vehicle comprising a body of substantially transparent plastic material associated to the film The component includes one or more proximity sensors for activating a functional component of the motor-vehicle.

Abstract: Described herein is a gearbox for a motor vehicle including a plurality of forward gear ratios and a reverse gear ratio, the gearbox further including: a control device (configured for controlling the selection and the engagement of said forward gear ratios and of said reverse gear ratio; and a plurality of engagement devices that can be controlled by means of said control device for engaging the forward gear ratios or reverse gear ratio (RM) of the gearbox that are operatively associated to said devices. The gearbox includes a locking device, which is electrically controlled and configured for preventing actuation of the engagement device associated to a predetermined forward gear ratio, said locking device being configured for being actuated above a threshold speed of the motor vehicle on which said gearbox is installed.

Abstract: A hybrid powertrain unit comprises an engine, and a gearbox device with a primary shaft connectable to a shaft of the engine via a clutch. The gearbox device comprises a secondary shaft with an output pinion meshing with a first crown wheel of a differential, the casing of which is rigidly connected to a casing of the gearbox device. An electric machine is configured to function as an electric motor and an electric generator, having a shaft connected by a transmission to a second crown wheel of the differential. In the transmission, arranged between the electric machine shaft and the second crown wheel is an engagement device that can be actuator driven. The electric machine shaft is connected to the engine shaft, on a side opposite to the gearbox device by a belt transmission that controls vehicle auxiliary devices, which are mounted coaxially with respect to the electric machine.

Abstract: A motor-vehicle structure includes an underbody portion of sheet-metal defining an aperture with within there is mounted a floor portion of plastic material or composite material, for housing a spare wheel or other component of a vehicle, such as an electric or electronic component and/or for example a unit for accumulating electric energy. To said floor portion of plastic material or composite material there is associated a holding element having at least a first part anchored to the underbody portion of sheet-metal and at least a second part which can be anchored to said spare wheel or said other component, so that in case of an accident, said holding element prevents said spare wheel or said other component from being projected far away from the underbody structure, by constraining it instead to remain within a distance corresponding to one dimension of said holding element.

Abstract: A joint for constructions includes a first element having a first coupling interface, a second element having a second coupling interface, and an interface element configured for coupling to the first coupling interface and the second coupling interface to impose a desired relative angular position on the first element and the second element of the joint. The interface element includes a first positioning structure configured for engaging with the first coupling interface, and includes a second positioning structure configured for engaging with the second coupling interface. The first positioning structure and the second positioning structure of the interface element are angularly staggered with respect to one another.

Abstract: A hybrid powertrain unit comprises an engine, and a gearbox device with a primary shaft connectable to an engine shaft via a clutch. The gearbox device comprises a secondary shaft with an output pinion meshing with a first crown wheel of a differential, the casing of which is rigidly connected to the casing of the gearbox device. The unit comprises an electric machine configured to function as an electric motor and an electric generator, having a shaft connected by a transmission to a second crown wheel of the differential. In the transmission, arranged between the electric machine shaft and the second crown wheel is an engagement device that can be driven via an actuator. The electric machine shaft is connected to the engine shaft, on a side opposite to the gearbox device. The transmission includes a gear for driving a transmission shaft connected to a further axle of the vehicle.

Abstract: Automotive electronic control unit programmed to realtime estimate either or both of vehicle mass and road slope, wherein; a. road slope, is estimated; a1. when vehicle is considered stopped based on an accelerometer signal indicative of vehicle acceleration, wherein the vehicle is considered stopped in the presence of substantially zero values of a speed signal indicative of vehicle speed, and a2. when vehicle is in rectilinear and curvilinear motion by implementing a road slope observer based on a linear Kalman filter, which is designed to: a21. operate based on signals indicative of vehicle speed and acceleration, and a22. compensate for accelerometric disturbances due to; a221. vehicle static pitch resulting from vehicle load distribution, and a222. vehicle dynamic pitch due to acceleration to which vehicle is subjected during motion, and a223. accelerometric disturbance components due to vehicle lateral dynamics; b. vehicle mass is estimated: b1. when vehicle is in motion, and b2.

Abstract: An electrically actuated valve includes a first working way and a second working way and a poppet configured for providing a seal on a valve seat set hydraulically between the first working way and the second working way. The poppet includes a first operating position, a second operating position, and a third operating position, and is displaceable by an electrical-actuation device In the first operating position, a passage area for a hydraulic fluid defined between said valve seat and said poppet has a maximum value In the second operating position, the passage area is partialized and has a value lower than said maximum value In the third operating position, the poppet is in contact with the valve seat, and the passage area has a substantially zero value, so that the first working way is isolated from the second working way.

Abstract: A seat backrest for a motor vehicle has a structure, which supports a padding covered by a cover; the structure has a rear plate provided with a coupling portion, to which an end of the cover is fixed along a peripheral edge of the plate itself; the plate is fixed to a front frame by means of a snap-on connecting device having a plurality of deformable appendages, which are carried by the plate in positions that are spaced apart from one another; the appendages are part of respective brackets, which are fixed to the plate and have respective stiffening portions, which are arranged at the coupling portion.