Abstract: A method for heating fuel injectors of an internal combustion engine supplies current from a power source to a plurality of electrically operable mechanical actuators. The current is supplied sequentially to at least two electrically operable mechanical actuators at a level sufficient to produce a time-varying magnetic field having a power density that substantially raises an armature temperature of said valve, while substantially maintaining the operating states that said at least two electrically operable mechanical actuators assumed prior to applying said current.

Abstract: A method for preventing redundant purchases of limited items includes steps for providing a commerce client to a user, receiving (a) financial information of the user and (b) a device identifier from a device the user is using to run the commerce client, the device identifier being based on one or more of user-configurable and non-user-configurable parameters of the user device, determining whether a previous transaction has been made with the device associated with the received device identifier, and disallowing the device from executing further transactions for a predetermined period of time. The method may be executed by an apparatus such as a computer server or stored as a series of instructions on a computer readable medium.

Abstract: A system, method, and article of manufacture for reducing the rate of fuel vapor formation within a fuel storage tank include a plurality of discrete independent floating particles or elements to reduce exposed evaporative surface area of fuel in the fuel storage tank while conforming to a changing fuel tank cross-section as fuel level changes. The elements or particles may have a self-tessellating geometry to facilitate formation of a single or multi-layer barrier or cover and be made or coated with a material that resists fuel wetting and degradation, such as a highly fluorinated polymer including polytetrafluoroethylene.

Abstract: A method to improve the performance of an electrically operable mechanical valve actuator is described. The system is capable of providing heat to targeted areas of an actuator so that valve performance may be improved during at least some operating conditions.

Abstract: A method to improve the performance of an electrically operable actuator is described. The method demagnetizes at least the core of an electromagnet to improve operation of the electrically operable actuator.

Abstract: A method for heating fuel injectors of an internal combustion engine, method comprising of supplying current from a power source to a plurality of electrically operable mechanical actuators; said current supplied sequentially to at least two electrically operable mechanical actuators of said plurality of electrically operable mechanical actuators and said current having attributes at a level sufficient to produce a time-varying magnetic field having a power density that substantially raises the temperature of an armature of said electrically operable mechanical valve, while substantially maintaining the operating states that said at least two electrically operable mechanical actuator assumed prior to applying said current.

Abstract: A system and method to reduce the instantaneous power consumption during heating of a fuel injector is described. The system is capable of heating the fuel injectors of an engine at different times.

Abstract: A method to improve the performance of an electrically operable actuator is described. The method demagnetizes at least the core of an electromagnet to improve operation of the electrically operable actuator.

Abstract: A system and method to reduce the instantaneous power consumption during heating of a fuel injector is described. The system is capable of heating the fuel injectors of an engine at different times.

Abstract: A method to improve the performance of an electrically operable mechanical valve actuator is described. The system is capable of providing heat to targeted areas of an actuator so that valve performance may be improved during at least some operating conditions.

Abstract: A system, method, and article of manufacture for reducing the rate of fuel vapor formation within a fuel storage tank include a plurality of discrete independent floating particles or elements to reduce exposed evaporative surface area of fuel in the fuel storage tank while conforming to a changing fuel tank cross-section as fuel level changes. The elements or particles may have a self-tessellating geometry to facilitate formation of a single or multi-layer barrier or cover and be made or coated with a material that resists fuel wetting and degradation, such as a highly fluorinated polymer including polytetrafluoroethylene.

Abstract: A method of controlling an automotive vehicle having a turning radius includes determining a hand wheel torque and applying brake-steer as a function of hand wheel torque.

Abstract: A system and method of controlling a vehicle includes sensing a current position of the trailer relative to the vehicle, determining a vehicle steering wheel angle, determining a predicted position of the trailer based upon the current position of the steering wheel angle, and displaying to the vehicle driver the current position and the predicted position of the trailer relative to the vehicle.

Abstract: A system and method of controlling a vehicle with a trailer comprises determining the presence of a trailer, determining a vehicle velocity, determining a steering wheel angle, and determining a rear axle side slip angle. When the rear axle side slip angle is above a predetermined value, the vehicle velocity is above a velocity threshold, and the steering wheel is about zero, brake-steer is applied to the vehicle.

Abstract: A night vision system for a vehicle includes a pulsed light source for illuminating a region proximate the vehicle and a secondary trigger light source operating at a predetermined pulse timing and second wavelength. A light sensor detects light at the second wavelength. The trigger light pulses are used to indicate the pulse timing of each respective vehicle's primary NIR light source. Upon detecting another vehicle's trigger light source, the controller adjusts the pulse phase of the first light source to be exactly out-of-phase with that of the oncoming vehicle since the pulsed timing of the oncoming vehicle's NIR light source is known upon detection of the opposing vehicle's trigger light source. Each vehicle can then adjust its primary light source to be out-of-phase with the other vehicle and, hence, non-interfering.