Abstract: A battery attachment bracket and method of assembly for protecting a battery of a motor vehicle from damage during a rear impact. The bracket connects the battery to support structure of the motor vehicle in an area subject to deformation during a rear impact. The bracket is formed by a body member extending from a battery-engaging surface to a vehicle-support-engaging surface. The vehicle-support-engaging surface has a bolt-receiving aperture formed therein, and a notch cut-out adjacent to the bolt-receiving aperture located in a vehicle-front direction with respect to the bolt-receiving aperture to define a narrowed portion of the battery attachment bracket. A gusset is located on a vehicle-front-facing surface of the bracket and has an angled surface. The gusset resists deformation of the bracket and promotes separation of the bracket from the support structure of the motor vehicle adjacent the bolt-receiving aperture.

Abstract: The vehicle door construction includes a bezel carrying a door release lever and linkage connected by a pair of first attachments to a door trim panel and by a second attachment to a door inner panel. The pair of first attachments includes a collar with an aperture for receiving a fastener to attach the bezel via the collar to the door trim panel. A small tab integrally connects the collar to a main portion of the bezel and defines a rupturable area when force is exerted on the door causing the door trim panel to separate from the door inner panel. The tabs rupture to allow the door trim panel to separate from the door inner panel while maintaining the bezel and the door release lever and linkage fixedly attached to the door inner panel.

Abstract: A head cover assembly for covering a crankcase of an internal combustion engine includes a head cover, a removable cover, a valve, and an integral oil separator. The oil separator includes a labyrinth that defines a flow path that separates oil from crankcase gases passing therethrough. The valve includes a tubular body presenting a passage for which manifold vacuum may draw crankcase gas from the oil separator. The cover includes an aperture. The tubular body is disposed through the aperture such that the outer tube surface is spaced apart from the inner edge of the aperture to define a gap in which separated oil may drain back into the engine for recycling.

Abstract: A cationic conductive polymer is described herein which generally comprises a proton donating polymer and an oxocarbonic acid. The cationic conductive polymer exhibits a high conductivity in low humidity environments.

Abstract: A motor vehicle acoustic noise reduction system is provided. The acoustic noise reduction system particularly reduces or eliminates wind throb in a moving vehicle. The system includes a window sensor operable to sense when a first window of the motor vehicle is open. An air inlet is also included which is actuatable to let air into the motor vehicle when the air inlet is in an open position. An actuator associated with and operable to open or close the air inlet is provided and in communication with a controller. The controller is associated with tie sensor and can energize the actuator to place the air inlet in the open position and let air into the motor vehicle when the window sensor senses the first window is in the open position and communicates this information to the controller.

Abstract: A windshield wiper for an automotive vehicle having an elongated base and an elongated flexible blade extending outwardly in a first direction from the base. The blade has a free edge adapted to contact a windshield on an automotive vehicle. An elongated scraper also extends outwardly from the base at an acute angle relative to the blade so that a free edge of the scraper is spaced from and generally parallel to the free edge of the blade. The scraper is constructed of a material more rigid than the blade to remove adhered debris from the windshield upon transverse movement of the windshield wiper.

Abstract: An object of complex three-dimensional configuration, such as an automotive vehicle body, is coated with a combination of a coating formulation and a photoactivated mixture containing active centers that have been produced prior to application. The two liquids can be intimately mixed prior to application to the object, or the coating formulation can be applied prior to the application of the photoactivated mixture. The coating formulation is cured by the active centers that have been produced prior to application.

Abstract: A wind deflector noise reduction system is provided. The wind deflector noise reduction system particularly reduces or eliminates wind throb in a moving vehicle having a rear side window in an open position. The system includes a panel attached to the B-pillar of a motor vehicle and operable to move between a closed position and an open position. When the panel is in the open position, wind is deflected from entering the moving vehicle. An actuator associated with the panel and operable to move the panel between the closed and the open position can be energized by a controller. The controller can be activated by the user of the motor vehicle and/or by a sensor that detects the position of the rear side window.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing, controlling the shape and size oft Pb-chalcogenide nanoparticles. The method includes preparing a Pb (Pb) precursor containing Pb and a carboxylic acid dissolved in a hydrocarbon solution and preparing a chalcogen element precursor containing a chalcogen element dissolved in a hydrocarbon solution. The amount of Pb and chalcogen in the respective precursor affords for a predetermined Pb:chalcogen element ratio to be present when the Pb precursor is mixed with the chalcogen element precursor. The Pb precursor is mixed with the chalcogen element precursor to form a Pb-chalcogen mixture in such a manner that Pb-chalcogenide nanoparticle nucleation does not occur. A nucleation and growth solution containing a surfactant is also prepared by heating the solution to a nucleation temperature sufficient to nucleate nanoparticles when the Pb-chalcogen element mixture is added.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include systems and methods for reducing driver boredom for the driver of a vehicle particularly for vehicle environments such as straight roads and lack of traffic that are likely to induce boredom. An example system includes an electronic circuit such as a computer, a vehicle environment monitor, a driver interface, and a driver stimulation device such as a semitransparent display.

Abstract: An energy efficient biped robotic system with passive-dynamic locomotion includes a body having a frame. An energy recapture mechanism is suspended within the frame. The energy recapture mechanism includes a load, a mechanical energy storage mechanism that interconnects the load and the frame, and a guide means secured to the load and the frame. A mechanical energy input mechanism interconnects the load with an electric energy generating mechanism. An output means transfers the generated electric energy to an energy storage device. The robot also includes a leg connected to the body portion. The cyclical movement of the leg during passive-dynamic locomotion is transferred to the load through the mechanical energy storage mechanism, and the resulting oscillatory movement of the load is transferred by the mechanical energy input mechanism to the electric energy generating mechanism. The generated electric energy is transferred to the energy storage device for use by the robotic system.

Abstract: A system and method for the remote diagnosis and repair of a plant malfunction in an automotive vehicle. The method includes the step of sending a plant malfunction diagnostic request to the remote station. Thereafter, the remote station transmits a software agent selected as a function of the nature of the malfunction from the remote station and to the vehicle. Upon execution, the software agent collects plant data relevant to the malfunction and transmits that collected data from the vehicle and to the remote station. The remote station analyzes the data to diagnose the cause of the plant malfunction and, if necessary, transmits additional diagnostic software agents to the vehicle to complete the diagnosis and then generates an output signal as a result of that analysis. If the malfunction is repairable at the plant, such as a software malfunction, the remote station transmits a software agent to the vehicle to perform the repair.

Abstract: A microbial fuel cell is provided according to embodiments of the present invention including electricigenic microbes containing at least about 0.075 milligrams of protein per square centimeter of the anode surface area. In particular embodiments, the electricigenic microbes are disposed on the anode such that at least about 90% of the portion of the anode surface area has a layer of electricigenic microbes, the layer greater than about 1 micron in thickness. This thickness is indicative of the layer including at least a first stratum of electricigenic microbes in direct contact with the anode and a second stratum of electricigenic microbes in direct contact with the first stratum such that the second stratum is in indirect contact with the anode.

Abstract: A gradient index lens for microwave radiation. The lens includes a plurality of electric field coupled resonators wherein each resonator has a resonant frequency. The resonators are arranged in a planar array having spaced apart side edges and spaced apart top and bottom edges. The resonant frequency of the resonators varies between at least two of the spaced edges of the array in accordance with the desired properties of the lens.

Abstract: A proton conducting polymer is described herein which generally comprises a proton donating polymer and a Lewis acid. The Lewis acids may comprise one or more rare earth triflates. The proton conducting polymer exhibits excellent proton conductivity in low humidity environments.

Abstract: Disclosed is a trim panel with a lead-in portion for providing smooth installation into an instrument panel. The trim panel has a body with a sheet material of predetermined thickness wrapped at least partially around, and a tab extending outwardly from the body and received by an instrument panel. The tab has an outer surface and an inner surface forming a v-shape, with the outer surface having a step portion that can receive the sheet material. The step portion has a predetermined depth equal to or greater than the predetermined thickness of the sheet material. The trim panel can also include an attachment device which operates to fixedly attach the trim panel to the instrument panel.

Abstract: A body molding with integral lock feature that is located within a channel formed in a body of a vehicle includes an elongated cover portion that is generally planar, with opposed side edges, an upper surface and a lower surface and opposed side edges. A retention member projects radially from the lower surface of the cover portion. The retention member includes at least two links interconnected via a joint, and each link is formed from a thermoplastic material having a predetermined link durometer. The joint is made from a thermoplastic material having a predetermined joint durometer. The link durometer is greater than the joint durometer, so that the retention member has a first predetermined shape prior to installation in the channel and a second predetermined shape after installation in the channel, to maintain the retention member in the channel via interference contact between a contacting joint and the channel.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle, such as an HEV, having an internal combustion engine and an electrical system. A thermoelectric device overlies the internal combustion engine and converts heat from the engine into electricity. The thermoelectric device is electrically coupled to the electrical system of the vehicle.

Abstract: An anode material made from nanoparticles, said anode material including a homogeneous mixture of lithium-alloying nanoparticles with active support matrix nanoparticles, is provided. The active support matrix nanoparticle is a compound that participates in the conversion reaction of the lithium battery. The compound is preferably a transition metal compound, with said compound including a nitride, carbide, oxide or combination thereof. An electrode manufactured from the anode material preferably has a porosity of between 5 and 80% and more preferably has a porosity between 10 and 50%. The anode material nanoparticles preferably have a mean linear dimension of between 2 and 500 nanometers, and more preferably have a mean linear dimension of between 2 and 50 nanometers.

Abstract: An oil strainer assembly is used to filter oil in an internal combustion engine of an automotive vehicle. The oil strainer assembly includes a strainer element and a housing. The housing has a first shell and a second shell. The housing has an inlet formed in one of the first and second shells and an inlet formed in the other of the first and second shells. The strainer element is disposed between the first shell and the second shell for filtering debris from oil passing between the inlet and the outlet of the housing. Each of the first and second shells has an outer wall. The first shell having a first flange for retaining the outer wall of the second shell. The first shell further having an outwardly extending tab for retaining a portion of the outer wall of the second shell opposite the first flange. The tab being movable away from the outer wall of the second shell to allow removal of the outer wall of the second shell from the first flange of the first shell along a generally radial direction.