Abstract: A fuel cell system may have at least one sensor including a pair of electrodes disposed on a substrate. The sensor may be configured to produce an output signal having a magnitude that is proportional to a relative humidity in a vicinity of the sensor and, if liquid water is on the sensor, proportional to an amount of the liquid water on the sensor.

Abstract: A purging system for removing oxygen from a fuel cell system during a shutdown period for the fuel cell system. The purging system includes a separator having an inlet and an outlet; a first exhaust line for communicating a first exhaust gas stream from an outlet of the fuel cell system to the separator inlet during the shutdown period of the fuel cell system; and a second exhaust line for communicating a second exhaust gas stream to an inlet of the fuel cell system for delivering the second exhaust gas stream to the fuel cell system during the shutdown period. The separator removes oxygen from the first exhaust gas stream such that the first stream nitrogen molar volume is lower than the second steam nitrogen molar volume and the first stream oxygen molar volume is higher than the second stream oxygen molar volume.

Abstract: A fuel cell hydration system comprising a first reservoir is provided. The first reservoir is positioned between a cathode supply and a fuel cell stack. The first reservoir includes corrugated regions positioned axially along the first reservoir to accumulate water discharged from a first fluid stream. The first fluid stream absorbs the accumulated water when an amount of water within the first fluid stream is below a water level to hydrate the fuel cell stack.

Abstract: A fuel cell system may have at least one sensor including a pair of electrodes disposed on a substrate. The sensor may be configured to produce an output signal having a magnitude that is proportional to a relative humidity in a vicinity of the sensor and, if liquid water is on the sensor, proportional to an amount of the liquid water on the sensor.

Abstract: A fuel cell hydration system comprising a first reservoir is provided. The first reservoir is positioned between a cathode supply and a fuel cell stack. The first reservoir includes corrugated regions positioned axially along the first reservoir to accumulate water discharged from a first fluid stream. The first fluid stream absorbs the accumulated water when an amount of water within the first fluid stream is below a water level to hydrate the fuel cell stack.

Abstract: Systems are provided to avoid overloading a truck's bed and/or overloading a truck's towing capacity. Systems are also provided to detect and alert drivers of unbalanced loads.

Abstract: A purging system for removing oxygen from a fuel cell system during a shutdown period for the fuel cell system. The purging system includes a separator having an inlet and an outlet; a first exhaust line for communicating a first exhaust gas stream from an outlet of the fuel cell system to the separator inlet during the shutdown period of the fuel cell system; and a second exhaust line for communicating a second exhaust gas stream to an inlet of the fuel cell system for delivering the second exhaust gas stream to the fuel cell system during the shutdown period. The separator removes oxygen from the first exhaust gas stream such that the first stream nitrogen molar volume is lower than the second steam nitrogen molar volume and the first stream oxygen molar volume is higher than the second stream oxygen molar volume.

Abstract: An oil monitoring system storing a remaining percent tachometer oil life, a remaining percent time oil life and a remaining percent odometer oil life. The oil monitoring system has means for selecting and displaying the lowest of these three remaining percent oil life values as the lowest remaining percent oil life. The selected lowest remaining percent oil life is compared to predetermined percentages to display on an in-vehicle display if the oil is OK, if the oil is to be changed soon, or if an oil change is required. The oil monitoring system may include an oil dielectric constant sensor and display if the oil is to be changed soon or an oil change is required as a function in the change in the oil's dielectric constant.

Abstract: A flexible fuel sensor is disclosed where two concentric conductors, adapted to receive the fuel mixture, are shorted to provide a resonant electromagnetic cavity.

Abstract: A flexible fuel dielectric-effect sensor is disclosed wherein three capacitors, immersed in the fuel flow, are connected to define a pi filter.

Abstract: An on-board sensor system which compares the dielectric properties of lubricating oil in an internal combustion engine with the dielectric properties of unused oil in a contained volume and providing an output signal indicative of the changes in viscosity correlated to the dielectric constant changes of the lubricating oil.

Abstract: A composite light pickup device for use in an automotive vehicle to collect light from both the ambient surroundings and from oncoming vehicles and employing separate optical fiber couplings of the collected light to a headlamp system that responsively activates the vehicle headlamps when the ambient light level is too low and switches the activated headlamps between high and low beams in response to receiving light from oncoming vehicle headlamps.