Abstract: The present invention provides an aerodynamic housing for the steerable wheels of a vehicle. The housings may present a minimal profile perpendicular to the axis of motion and substantially match the streamlines of the airflow around the body of the vehicle to minimize drag. The housings may steer with the wheels and may float with the wheel suspensions. The housings may include front and rear bumpers to minimize damage to the housings. The housings may further be articulated; that is to say that a portion of the housings may be rotated or otherwise moved clear of the wheels, to enable maintenance, repair, and/or servicing without being disassembled. The housings may include appropriate mechanisms for securing the articulated portion of the housings during vehicle operation.

Abstract: An electric vehicle having a heat exchanger formed in an aerodynamic airfoil shape comprising one or more body panels disposed along an outer surface of the vehicle having one or more fluidic chambers or micro-channels. The heat exchanger is adapted to provide effective and highly efficient heat transfer, and also to provide substantially reduced or negligible contribution to the aerodynamic drag. The heat exchanger includes a supplemental heat exchange system wherein at least a portion of the heat exchange capacity is provided by an inner heat exchange surface of the heat exchanger exposed to an interstitial space within the vehicle. Airflow is forced, via a fan for example, from an aerodynamically-efficient inlet, over the inner heat exchange surface, and exhausted through an aerodynamically-efficient outlet, thereby providing a supplemental heat exchange system including substantially reduced or negligible contribution to the aerodynamic drag.

Abstract: An aerodynamic vehicle includes an aerodynamic heat exchanger formed as one or more body panels disposed along an outer surface of the vehicle having one or more fluidic chambers or micro-channels. The aerodynamic heat exchanger is adapted to provide effective and highly efficient heat transfer, and also to provide substantially reduced or negligible contribution to the aerodynamic drag. The aerodynamic heat exchanger may provide adequate heat rejection capacity throughout vehicle operating conditions that advantageously results in increased fuel economy and overall vehicle performance.

Abstract: A thermal management system for an electric vehicle having a drivetrain flow path coupling one or more motors and one or more inverters to an aerodynamic heat exchanger comprising one or more body panels disposed along an outer surface of the vehicle, the aerodynamic heat exchanger having one or more fluidic chambers or micro-channels. The drive flow path is decoupled from the vehicle's chiller and/or refrigeration cycle under all operating conditions. The drivetrain may be further characterized by the one or more motors being disposed proximate one or more wheels of the vehicle, such as within the wheel skirt or cowling, to capitalize on passive or free cooling via ambient airflow about the wheel. The thermal management system may further include a refrigeration cycle wherein the cabin and the battery pack are provided cooling in a parallel configuration or in a serial configuration.

Abstract: An aerodynamic vehicle includes an aerodynamic heat exchanger formed as one or more body panels disposed along an outer surface of the vehicle having one or more fluidic chambers or micro-channels. The aerodynamic heat exchanger is adapted to provide effective and highly efficient heat transfer, and also to provide substantially reduced or negligible contribution to the aerodynamic drag. The aerodynamic heat exchanger may provide adequate heat rejection capacity throughout vehicle operating conditions that advantageously results in increased fuel economy and overall vehicle performance.

Abstract: An electric vehicle having a heat exchanger formed in an aerodynamic airfoil shape comprising one or more body panels disposed along an outer surface of the vehicle having one or more fluidic chambers or micro-channels. The heat exchanger is adapted to provide effective and highly efficient heat transfer, and also to provide substantially reduced or negligible contribution to the aerodynamic drag. The heat exchanger includes a supplemental heat exchange system wherein at least a portion of the heat exchange capacity is provided by an inner heat exchange surface of the heat exchanger exposed to an interstitial space within the vehicle. Airflow is forced, via a fan for example, from an aerodynamically-efficient inlet, over the inner heat exchange surface, and exhausted through an aerodynamically-efficient outlet, thereby providing a supplemental heat exchange system including substantially reduced or negligible contribution to the aerodynamic drag.

Abstract: An aerodynamic vehicle includes an aerodynamic heat exchanger formed as one or more body panels disposed along an outer surface of the vehicle having one or more fluidic chambers or micro-channels. The aerodynamic heat exchanger is adapted to provide effective and highly efficient heat transfer, and also to provide substantially reduced or negligible contribution to the aerodynamic drag. The aerodynamic heat exchanger may provide adequate heat rejection capacity throughout vehicle operating conditions that advantageously results in increased fuel economy and overall vehicle performance.

Abstract: Radiators, automobiles, and methods of transferring thermal energy to or from an automobile. The radiators include elongated, flattened tubes that transfer thermal energy while minimally affecting the reference area of the automobile, reducing the amount of drag produced by the radiator.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an optical device having a spatially-varying volume holographic grating (VHG), and methods, systems and apparatus for making the same. An optical device according to the disclosure has one or both of a spacing and a slant angle of the VHG which varies across locations of the optical device. A method for making an such an optical device includes: irradiating a photosensitive material with a first beam of light; producing a volume holographic grating in the photosensitive material by producing an interference pattern between the first beam with a second beam of light; moving the first beam and the second beam or the photosensitive material relative to the other to scan the first beam and the second beam across locations on the photosensitive material; and varying one or both of a spacing and a slant angle of the volume holographic grating across locations on the photosensitive material.

Abstract: Vehicles having a plurality of solar cells arranged on a dashboard of the vehicle. The solar cells are arranged at an acute angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the dashboard, and may have an arcuate shape along the longitudinal axis of the dashboard. The solar cells may have an irregular octagon shape and may be more flexible along one axis of symmetry relative to the other axis of symmetry.

Abstract: Vehicles having a plurality of solar cells arranged at an acute angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle. The solar cells may having an irregular octagon shape and may be more flexible along one axis of symmetry relative to the other axis of symmetry.

Abstract: A cooking device includes an airflow system that generates airflow within a duct and a cooking chamber that is configured to vent heated air and/or steam within the cooking chamber to the duct. The heated air and/or steam vented to the duct is accelerated by the airflow.

Abstract: A cooking device includes a housing having an opening, an airflow device that draws air into the housing through the opening, a filter that is removably connected to the housing to cover the opening, and a controller that controls an amount of the air drawn into the housing based upon a presence of the filter covering the opening or an absence of the filter covering the opening.

Abstract: A cooking device includes an airflow system that generates airflow within a duct and a cooking chamber that is configured to vent heated air and/or steam within the cooking chamber to the duct. The heated air and/or steam vented to the duct is accelerated by the airflow.

Abstract: A cooking device includes a housing having an opening, an airflow device that draws air into the housing through the opening, a filter that is removably connected to the housing to cover the opening, and a controller that controls an amount of the air drawn into the housing based upon a presence of the filter covering the opening or an absence of the filter covering the opening.