Abstract: In some embodiments, a first image may be captured from a first field of view using a first exposure time. A second image may be captured from a second field of view using a second exposure time that is different than the first exposure time. An overlapping field of view may be defined by an overlapping portion of the first field of view and the second field of view. Histograms may be created for the first image and the second image, and possibly more images that include different exposure times and represent the overlapping field of view. The histograms may be analyzed to determine a presence or an absence of a light source in the overlapping field of view.

Abstract: Provided are a double-layer sound insulation and noise reduction device and an atomizer. The double-layer sound insulation and noise reduction device includes a noise reduction main body, a water baffle and a connecting member, the noise reduction main body includes an annular outer wall and an annular inner wall, the annular inner wall is spaced apart from the annular outer wall to form a sound insulation cavity, and the connecting member is connected between the annular inner wall and the annular outer wall; a side of the annular outer wall is provided with an outer wall ventilation opening, a side of the annular inner wall is provided with an inner wall ventilation opening communicating with the outer wall ventilation opening, and a bottom of the annular inner wall is formed with a water passing hole.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to rotors for electric motor assemblies and methods of making the same, and more specifically, to variable thickness rotors for axial flux motors. More specifically, annular-shaped rotors having interiorly disposed magnets for axial flux motors are provided in certain aspects. The variable thickness rotors may each include an annular-shaped body having a first thickness at a first radial position and a second thickness at a second radial position. The first radial position may be spaced apart from the second radial position. The first thickness may be greater than or equal to about 200% of the second thickness.

Abstract: A torque transmission device (100) includes a variator of a continuously variable unit (CVU) (20) arranged in parallel with a layshaft gearset (30). The CVU (20) includes a first pulley (22) rotatably coupled to a second pulley (24), and the layshaft gearset (30) includes a first gear element (32) meshingly engaged with an intermediate gear element (34) meshingly engaged with a second gear element (36). A transmission input member (12) is rotatably coupled to the first pulley (22) of the CVU (20), and is selectively rotatably coupled to the first gear element (32) of the layshaft gearset (30) by activation of a first clutch (37). A transmission output member (14) is rotatably coupled to the second pulley (24) of the CVU (20) and rotatably coupled to the second gear element (36) of the layshaft gearset (30). The transmission is disposed to operate in a continuously variable mode when the first clutch (37) is disengaged, and to operate in a fixed gear mode when the first clutch (37) is engaged.

Abstract: Provided are an oil separator, a compressor, and an air conditioner having the same. The oil separator comprises: a casing, which is provided with a gas inlet and a gas outlet, and a first separation structure, which is disposed within the casing, and which is located between the gas inlet and the gas outlet. The first separation structure comprises a first baffle plate and a refrigerant pipeline; the first baffle plate is provided therein with a cooling chamber; the refrigerant pipeline is connected to the first baffle plate and communicates with the cooling chamber.

Abstract: An axial flux motor includes: a stator having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, the stator including: N stator core components on the first side, where N is an integer greater than two; and pole shoes attached to radial sides of the N stator core components, N slot openings between adjacent ones of the pole shoes, where each of the N slot openings extends in at least one direction non-radially on the first side; and a rotor including a third side and M permanent magnets on the third side, where the first side is parallel to the third side, and where M is an integer greater than two.

Abstract: An electric motor includes a housing, a shaft, a rotor, a stator, and at least one coolant supply channel. The shaft is rotatably mounted within the housing and has a longitudinal axis. The rotor is fixed to the shaft for rotation therewith. The stator is spaced apart from the rotor along the longitudinal axis of the shaft to yield at least one air gap between the stator and the rotor. The at least one coolant supply channel extends through at least one of the shaft and the stator and is configured to supply coolant flow to the at least one air gap.

Abstract: Systems and methods for removing the bias induced by noise from power Doppler images to achieve improvements of microvessel image contrast are provided. In one example, the noise-induced bias can be suppressed by utilizing the characteristics of uncorrelated noise in the ultrasound image from data acquired or compounded at different transmitting angles. In another example, the noise-induced bias can be suppressed due to the lack of correlation between adjacent ultrasound images. These example implementations may also be combined, as will be described below.

Abstract: A system for detecting transparent elements in a vehicle environment are described. In some examples, this may include accessing an image of a scene captured by an image capture device attached to a vehicle. A reflected image present in the image may be detected. The reflected image may include a portion of the vehicle. It may be determined that the scene includes a transparent element based at least in part on detecting the reflected image present in the image.

Abstract: A torque transmission device (100) includes a variator of a continuously variable unit (CVU) (20) arranged in parallel with a layshaft gearset (30). The CVU (20) includes a first pulley (22) rotatably coupled to a second pulley (24), and the layshaft gearset (30) includes a first gear element (32) meshingly engaged with an intermediate gear element (34) meshingly engaged with a second gear element (36). A transmission input member (12) is rotatably coupled to the first pulley (22) of the CVU (20), and is selectively rotatably coupled to the first gear element (32) of the layshaft gearset (30) by activation of a first clutch (37). A transmission output member (14) is rotatably coupled to the second pulley (24) of the CVU (20) and rotatably coupled to the second gear element (36) of the layshaft gearset (30). The transmission is disposed to operate in a continuously variable mode when the first clutch (37) is disengaged, and to operate in a fixed gear mode when the first clutch (37) is engaged.

Abstract: A speed reduction assembly for an electric vehicle includes an electric machine configured to operate as a motor and as a generator. The electric machine includes an output shaft that is rotatable about a longitudinal axis at an output speed. The assembly also includes an output member coupled to the output shaft and rotatable about the longitudinal axis at a reduced speed. In addition, the assembly includes a pericyclic apparatus coupled to the output shaft and the output member to reduce the output speed of the output shaft to the reduced speed of the output member. A vehicle may include the speed reduction assembly in certain configurations. The vehicle includes a battery module and the electric machine is in electrical communication with the battery module to recharge the battery module when the electric machine operates as the generator.

Abstract: A fluid-cooled axial flux motor having a stator, a rotor disposed adjacent to the stator, and a rotor shaft rotationally fixed onto the rotor. The rotor shaft includes axial coolant passageway having an inlet and opposite outlet. The rotor includes coolant passageways extending radially from rotor shaft. The rotor coolant passageways include an inlet in fluid communication with the outlet of the axial coolant passageway and an outlet. The fluid-cooled axial flux motor further includes a coolant distribution header having an inlet in fluid communication with the outlet of the rotor coolant passageway, a coolant collection header having an inlet in fluid communication with the outlet of the coolant distribution header, and a collection header outlet. The outlet of the coolant distribution header is disposed above the stator and the inlet of the coolant collection header is disposed below the stator with respect to the direction of gravity.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to rotors for electric motor assemblies and methods of making the same, and more specifically, to variable thickness rotors for axial flux motors. More specifically, annular-shaped rotors having interiorly disposed magnets for axial flux motors are provided in certain aspects. The variable thickness rotors may each include an annular-shaped body having a first thickness at a first radial position and a second thickness at a second radial position. The first radial position may be spaced apart from the second radial position. The first thickness may be greater than or equal to about 200% of the second thickness.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides hybrid stator core components for an axial flux motor stator and methods for making the same. The hybrid stator core component includes a molded soft magnetic composite material and a laminated component. In one variation, a laminated insert comprising a plurality of insulated layers is non-releasably seated within a molded soft magnetic composite material. In another variation, a hybrid stator core component has a molded soft magnetic composite core and a laminated shell comprising a plurality of layers disposed around at least a portion of the molded soft magnetic composite core.

Abstract: An axial flux motor having reduced spatial harmonics including a rotor with a plurality of magnets. A rotor shaft is coupled to the rotor. A stator faces the rotor and an air gap defined between the rotor and the stator. The stator includes a plurality of electromagnetic components defining a plurality of magnetic poles. The electromagnetic components include a plurality of posts, a plurality of slots, and a plurality of distributed electrically conductive windings disposed in and spanning across nonadjacent slots of the plurality of slots. At least one electrically conductive winding has a winding pitch span of greater than or equal to about 3 to less than or equal to about 20. The axial flux motor may include two rotors and one stator or alternatively two stators and one rotor. Such axial flux motors have short pitch provide desirable reduced spatial harmonics to enhance motor performance.

Abstract: An electric propulsion system includes a battery pack and a DC-DC converter. The converter has a bypass switch and semiconductor switches. A traction power inverter module (“TPIM”) rectifies a DC bus voltage on the voltage bus to produce an AC bus voltage. An electric machine is connected to the TPIM and energized via the AC bus voltage. A controller calculates required output power from the converter based on a requested operating mode, and speed and torque of the electric machine. When the output power exceeds a threshold, the bypass switch closes to bypass the converter. When the output power is less than the threshold, the controller uses a minimum loss voltage from a loss map as a target control voltage of the converter to optimize efficiency of the electric propulsion system.

Abstract: An aerial vehicle is outfitted with two or more digital cameras that may be continuously calibrated. The aerial vehicle may include one or more markings provided on portions of a frame, a control surface or another component that are within fields of view of the digital cameras. Based on an initial calibration of the digital cameras, intrinsic and extrinsic parameters of the digital cameras may be determined. Using the intrinsic and extrinsic parameters, locations of the markings may be determined. Subsequently, after the aerial vehicle has engaged in flight operations, images captured of the marking may be used to determine whether the digital cameras remain properly calibrated, and whether images captured using the imaging devices may be relied upon in determining ranges to objects or for any other purpose. A correction factor may be generated based on any differences between projections of the markings within the respective images.

Abstract: A powertrain for a vehicle includes a housing, a motor generator unit, a torque converter, a first and second shafts, a first and second gear sets, and a torque transmitting mechanism. The motor generator unit includes an output member. The torque converter includes a pump and a turbine. The pump is connected for common rotation with the output member of the motor generator unit. The first shaft rotatably is supported by the powertrain housing and is connected for common rotation with the turbine of the torque converter. The second shaft is rotatably supported by the powertrain housing and disposed parallel to the first shaft. An output gear is connected for common rotation to the second shaft.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for operating a switched-mode power supply (SMPS). One example method generally includes comparing a signal representative of an amount of current across an inductive element of the SMPS with at least three thresholds, selecting a configuration of the SMPS based on the comparison, and configuring the SMPS based on the selection.

Abstract: A powertrain has a continuously variable transmission including a shaft rotatable about an axis. The CVT further comprises a variator assembly that includes a pulley supported on the shaft. The pulley has a movable sheave with a ramp surface. The movable sheave is axially movable on the shaft. The variator assembly also includes an endless rotatable device frictionally engaged with the movable sheave. An actuator mechanism includes a wedge component supported on the shaft. The wedge component has a wedge surface that automatically engages the ramp surface when torque on the shaft is in a first direction. The wedge surface applies a wedge force on the ramp surface. The actuator mechanism further includes an actuator that is operatively connected to the movable sheave and is activatable to apply a force on the movable sheave.