Abstract: A vehicle seat system is provided that includes heating, cooling, and occupant sensing functionality in a single unit. The system includes carbon nanotube (CNT) elements disposed adjacent the seat surface. The CNT elements may be woven or stitched to a vehicle seat cover, or may be disposed in a mat that is placed between a seat cushion and the seat cover. The CNT elements may be used for heating, cooling, and occupant sensing, without requiring separate units or circuits. The system may include Peltier elements attached to the CNT elements, with the Peltier elements transferring heat between the CNT elements and a heat bank. The heat bank may be in the form of a heat sink, or the heat bank may be the seat rails of the vehicle seat, with the Peltier elements attached to the seat rails.

Abstract: An electrohydraulic actuator assembly for use in a brake-by-wire hydraulic brake system. The electrohydraulic actuator assembly includes a pair of electrohydraulic actuator EHA units. One EHA unit provides fluid to front brakes and the other EHA unit provides fluid to rear brakes. Each EHA unit includes an electric motor, a reduction gear unit, a pair of magnetorheological clutches, and a pair of fluid pumps. The system further including an ECU that actuates the electric motor and controls engagement of the clutches to cause the fluid pump to pump brake fluid to at least one of the front and rear brakes. The system further includes a regeneration system for providing supplemental electricity to the electric motors.

Abstract: A system and method for determining an optimal route between an origin and a destination along one or more road segments is provided. The system includes a controller disposed within a vehicle and configured to determine the optimal route between the origin and the destination. A first data source provides the server with data regarding current and/or future conditions on a plurality of road segments. A second data source provides the server with data regarding actual traversals of the plurality of road segments. The system solves a backward problem to extract probability distribution functions for how each of several factors affect time and energy required to traverse each of the plurality of road segments. The system also solves a forward problem to apply the probability distribution functions, using data regarding actual conditions to determine the optimal route that is optimized for both of time and energy consumption.

Abstract: Disclosed are a system and method to implement a novel treatment to restore bilateral longitudinal parallel paraurethral support, the system comprising a trocar, and introducer, and one or more barbed suture-type devices, the components used cooperatively to implant the one or more barbed suture devices in the patient to provide sufficient paraurethral support to restore continence in the patient.

Abstract: An electrohydraulic actuator assembly for use in a brake-by-wire hydraulic brake system. The electrohydraulic actuator assembly includes a pair of electrohydraulic actuator EHA units. One EHA unit provides fluid to front brakes and the other EHA unit provides fluid to rear brakes. Each EHA unit includes an electric motor, a reduction gear unit, a pair of magnetorheological clutches, and a pair of fluid pumps. The system further including an ECU that actuates the electric motor and controls engagement of the clutches to cause the fluid pump to pump brake fluid to at least one of the front and rear brakes. The system further includes a regeneration system for providing supplemental electricity to the electric motors.

Abstract: A system for opening and closing a closure of a vehicle, such as a door or a tailgate, is provided. The system includes a motor such as an electric motor which may be coupled to the closure via an output linkage, with the output linkage mechanically coupled to the closure and operable to move the closure between a closed position and an open position. The output linkage may include a driven pulley which may be coupled to the motor. The output linkage may include a driven pulley and a cable. The output linkage may include a leadscrew threadedly engaging a nut. A high-bandwidth MR clutch having a high dynamic response may selectively couple the motor with the closure to provide a haptic or tactile feedback to a user interacting with the closure as it is opened or closed.

Abstract: In at least some implementations, a method for preventing inadvertant operation of a vehicle access system that includes a plurality of inputs involves providing a keypad operable to output signals to control a vehicle system based on entry of a code via the inputs, detecting when a predetermined access sequence is inputted via the inputs and outputting a signal to a vehicle system to allow access to the vehicle, and operating the keypad in a disabled mode wherein the keypad output signals are not outputted. The disabled mode may be activated either actively or passively or both, and the disabled mode may be terminated either actively or passively or both.

Abstract: Disclosed is an exemplary method for optimizing vehicle performance. The method includes determining an optimized drive torque for maximizing vehicle fuel economy and detecting a driver requested drive torque. A determination is made on whether the driver requested drive torque is performance related or safety related. The arbitrated drive torque is set to the optimized drive torque when it is determined that the driver requested drive torque is not performance and safety related. The arbitrated drive torque is set to the driver requested drive torque when it is determined that the driver requested drive torque is either performance or safety related.

Abstract: A system for displaying an image on a display device of a motor vehicle includes a rear-view camera connected to a moveable component on the motor vehicle and a controller in communication with the rear-view camera. The controller has memory for storing control logic and a processor configured to execute the control logic. The control logic includes capturing a field of view image from the rear-view camera, determining a position of the rear-view camera, determining an image perspective relationship of the field of view image based on the position of the rear-view camera, modifying the field of view image based on the image perspective relationship to create a virtual perspective image, and displaying the virtual perspective image on the display device in the motor vehicle as the position of the rear-view camera changes between at least a first position and a second position.

Abstract: A system for displaying an image on a display device of a motor vehicle includes a rear-view camera connected to a moveable component on the motor vehicle and a controller in communication with the rear-view camera. The controller has memory for storing control logic and a processor configured to execute the control logic. The control logic includes capturing a field of view image from the rear-view camera, determining a position of the rear-view camera, determining an image perspective relationship of the field of view image based on the position of the rear-view camera, modifying the field of view image based on the image perspective relationship to create a virtual perspective image, and displaying the virtual perspective image on the display device in the motor vehicle as the position of the rear-view camera changes between at least a first position and a second position.

Abstract: In at least some implementations, a method for preventing inadvertant operation of a vehicle access system that includes a plurality of inputs involves providing a keypad operable to output signals to control a vehicle system based on entry of a code via the inputs, detecting when a predetermined access sequence is inputted via the inputs and outputting a signal to a vehicle system to allow access to the vehicle, and operating the keypad in a disabled mode wherein the keypad output signals are not outputted. The disabled mode may be activated either actively or passively or both, and the disabled mode may be terminated either actively or passively or both.

Abstract: Disclosed is an exemplary method for optimizing vehicle performance. The method includes determining an optimized drive torque for maximizing vehicle fuel economy and detecting a driver requested drive torque. A determination is made on whether the driver requested drive torque is performance related or safety related. The arbitrated drive torque is set to the optimized drive torque when it is determined that the driver requested drive torque is not performance and safety related. The arbitrated drive torque is set to the driver requested drive torque when it is determined that the driver requested drive torque is either performance or safety related.

Abstract: Disclosed is an exemplary method for optimizing vehicle performance. The method includes determining an optimized drive torque for maximizing vehicle fuel economy and detecting a driver requested drive torque. A determination is made on whether the driver requested drive torque is performance related or safety related. The arbitrated drive torque is set to the optimized drive torque when it is determined that the driver requested drive torque is not performance and safety related. The arbitrated drive torque is set to the driver requested drive torque when it is determined that the driver requested drive torque is either performance or safety related.

Abstract: Disclosed is an exemplary valve having a first valve member that may include at least one orifice, and which is moveable between a first position and a second position, and a second valve member that includes at least one orifice, and which is moveable relative to the first valve member between a first position, in which the at least one orifice of the second valve member is fluidly disconnected from the at least one orifice of the first valve member, and a second position, in which the at least one orifice of the second valve member is fluidly connected to the at least one orifice of the first valve member. The exemplary valve may also include first and second actuators for moving the first and second valve members between their respective first and second positions.

Abstract: Disclosed is an exemplary method for optimizing vehicle performance. The method includes determining an optimized drive torque for maximizing vehicle fuel economy and detecting a driver requested drive torque. A determination is made on whether the driver requested drive torque is performance related or safety related. The arbitrated drive torque is set to the optimized drive torque when it is determined that the driver requested drive torque is not performance and safety related. The arbitrated drive torque is set to the driver requested drive torque when it is determined that the driver requested drive torque is either performance or safety related.

Abstract: Disclosed is an exemplary valve having a first valve member that may include at least one orifice, and which is moveable between a first position and a second position, and a second valve member that includes at least one orifice, and which is moveable relative to the first valve member between a first position, in which the at least one orifice of the second valve member is fluidly disconnected from the at least one orifice of the first valve member, and a second position, in which the at least one orifice of the second valve member is fluidly connected to the at least one orifice of the first valve member. The exemplary valve may also include first and second actuators for moving the first and second valve members between their respective first and second positions.