Abstract: An inflatable active flow control device includes a first surface, a second surface, and a spring including one end connected to the first surface and an opposite end connected to the second surface. A flexible material is connected to both the first surface and the second surface around the spring, defines an inflatable internal volume, and includes a plurality of threads extending between opposing inner surfaces of the flexible material at spaced locations through the inflatable internal volume.

Abstract: A thermal management device for dissipating heat from an electrical component includes a volume of working fluid configured to change from a liquid state to a vapor state in response to being heated by the electrical component. The thermal management device also includes a working fluid chamber configured to move the working fluid. The working fluid chamber includes an impermeable outer portion and a porous inner portion integrally formed with and connected to the impermeable outer portion. The inner portion is configured to move the working fluid when in the liquid state toward the electrical component. The impermeable outer portion is made of a first material and the porous inner portion is made of a second material. The first material is different from the second material.

Abstract: A rotating element operating device includes a device body having a perforation, an operating member having a limiting end and an engaging end and being received in or extended out of the device body along the perforation, and a magnetic member set at the device body or the operating member. When the operating member is received in the device body, the magnetic force of the magnetic member pulls the operating member toward the bottom end of the device body so that the engaging end is set at the top end, and the operating member is secured to the device body by the magnetic force of the magnetic member. When the operating member is pulled out of the device body, the limiting end is positioned inside the perforation so that the operating member is prohibited from leaving the device body.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for heating a vehicle window to remove ice and condensation using a carbon nanotube heating pad. The apparatus includes a user interface operative to receive a user request, a vehicle windshield, a heating pad wherein the heating pad includes a carbon nanotube heating element and a reflective surface and is oriented such that the carbon nanotube heating element is directed towards the windshield, a power supply operative to supply power to the carbon nanotube heating element in response to a control signal, and a processor operative to generate the control signal in response to the user request.

Abstract: A deployable panel for a vehicle, the deployable panel including: a telescopically adjustable body, where, when in a retracted state, the body is configured to be enclosed within at least a portion of the vehicle, and where, when in an extended state, the body is configured to reduce aerodynamic drag generated during movement of the vehicle or increase aerodynamic stability against external forces impacting at least one side of the vehicle; and a linear actuator installed within the body, the linear actuator configured to telescopically adjust the body from the retracted state to the extended state or somewhere therebetween.

Abstract: A method of regulating thermal comfort of an occupant of a vehicle cabin uses a radiant heating tile powered via an energy storage device to generate thermal energy. The method also includes detecting the occupant's position via a position sensor and detecting the occupant's surface temperature and detecting a temperature of the tile via at least one temperature sensor. The method additionally includes determining, via an electronic controller, a rate of change of occupant's surface temperature and a difference between the tile temperature and the occupant's surface temperature relative to a predetermined temperature set-point. The method further includes regulating, via the electronic controller, a power input from the energy storage device to the tile in response to the determined rate of change of the surface temperature and the determined difference between the tile temperature and the occupant's surface temperature to thereby regulate the occupant's surface temperature.

Abstract: An adaptive radiant heating system regulates a climate inside a motor vehicle cabin having a seat for a vehicle occupant. The system includes radiant heating tiles arranged proximate the seat and powered by an energy storage device. The system also includes a first sensor for detecting a position of the occupant and generating a first signal indicative thereof. The system additionally includes a second sensor for detecting a temperature within the cabin and generating a second signal indicative thereof. The system furthermore includes an electronic controller in operative communication with the tiles and the first and second sensors, and configured to regulate the climate proximate the seat via selective control of the tiles. The controller is configured to receive the first and second signals and activate at least one of the tiles in response to the first and second signals, to thereby regulate the climate proximate the seat.

Abstract: A battery cell thermal conditioning system for a vehicle includes a battery pack having multiple battery cells. Multiple foam layers are individually positioned between first successive ones of the battery cells. A first carbon nanotube sheet is positioned in direct contact with one of the battery cells on a first side of the foam layers and a second carbon nanotube sheet is positioned in direct contact with a different one of the battery cells on a second side of the foam layers. A cooling plate is positioned between second successive ones of the battery cells. A controller directs current flow to the first carbon nanotube sheet and the second carbon nanotube sheet when a temperature of the one of the battery cells contacted by the carbon nanotube sheet drops below a predetermined threshold temperature.

Abstract: An adaptive radiant heating system regulates a climate inside a motor vehicle cabin having a seat for a vehicle occupant. The system includes radiant heating tiles arranged proximate the seat and powered by an energy storage device. The system also includes a first sensor for detecting a position of the occupant and generating a first signal indicative thereof. The system additionally includes a second sensor for detecting a temperature within the cabin and generating a second signal indicative thereof. The system furthermore includes an electronic controller in operative communication with the tiles and the first and second sensors, and configured to regulate the climate proximate the seat via selective control of the tiles. The controller is configured to receive the first and second signals and activate at least one of the tiles in response to the first and second signals, to thereby regulate the climate proximate the seat.

Abstract: A method of regulating thermal comfort of an occupant of a vehicle cabin uses a radiant heating tile powered via an energy storage device to generate thermal energy. The method also includes detecting the occupant's position via a position sensor and detecting the occupant's surface temperature and detecting a temperature of the tile via at least one temperature sensor. The method additionally includes determining, via an electronic controller, a rate of change of occupant's surface temperature and a difference between the tile temperature and the occupant's surface temperature relative to a predetermined temperature set-point. The method further includes regulating, via the electronic controller, a power input from the energy storage device to the tile in response to the determined rate of change of the surface temperature and the determined difference between the tile temperature and the occupant's surface temperature to thereby regulate the occupant's surface temperature.

Abstract: A protective device for a cable in the form of a plurality of interconnected links forming a chain. At least one of the links comprises a retaining element, which may be a C-shaped or an L-shaped element which completes the formation of an enclosed void into which a cable can be inserted for protection. Each link preferably includes two opposed sidewalls connected by a bottom wall and the C-shaped or L-shaped element. When the retaining member is the L-shaped element, the L-shaped element is hingedly connected to one of the opposed sidewalls.

Abstract: A transmission structure includes: a turn button; a driven wheel including a wheel body and connecting parts having free ends or pushing blocks; and an actuating member including abutting parts corresponding to the free ends or the pushing blocks. When the driven wheel rotates, each of the free ends or each of the pushing blocks abuts against a corresponding one of the abutting parts. Also, the actuating member moves with a rotating shaft, and a latch connected to the rotating shaft displaces between a locked position and an unlocked position. When the driven wheel rotates, the latch does not displace and the actuating member cannot rotate. Also, each of the free ends or pushing blocks is still abutted by the corresponding one of the abutting parts and is curved elastically or deformed until the free end or the pushing block spans across the corresponding one of the abutting parts.

Abstract: A package structure of a power module is provided. The package structure includes a body having a sidewall, a first protruding structure protruding outward from one end of the sidewall, a second protruding structure protruding outward from another end of the sidewall and opposite to the first protruding structure, and a spring having two ends embedded in the first and the second protruding structures, respectively. The stress is transferred to the first and the second protruding structures via the spring, respectively. The equivalent stiffness of the spring is different from that of the body so that the package structure as a whole suffers the stress uniformly.

Abstract: A heating apparatus is provided. The heating apparatus includes a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heating element and a power controller configured to generate and apply a pulse width modified signal to the PTC heating element. The power controller is configured to vary a current of the pulse width modified signal linearly with respect to a temperature of a space being heated by the PTC heating element.

Abstract: A contact heating apparatus is provided. The heating apparatus includes a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heating element integrated into a contact surface, a power controller configured to generate and apply a pulse width modified signal to the PTC heating element, and a controller is configured to adjust a current of the pulse width modified signal of the power controller according to one or more from among a setting parameter and a profile.

Abstract: A package structure of a power module is provided. The package structure includes a body having a sidewall, a first protruding structure protruding outward from one end of the sidewall, a second protruding structure protruding outward from another end of the sidewall and opposite to the first protruding structure, and a spring having two ends embedded in the first and the second protruding structures, respectively. The stress is transferred to the first and the second protruding structures via the spring, respectively. The equivalent stiffness of the spring is different from that of the body so that the package structure as a whole suffers the stress uniformly.

Abstract: A method for updating a power mode parameter combination, includes identifying a current hardware combination of a client host; loading and executing a current application program; loading a default profile according to the current application program to update a current power mode parameter combination of the current hardware combination; receiving a user-defined parameter combination to update the current power mode parameter combination of the current hardware combination; correlating the current application program, the current hardware combination and the updated current power mode parameter combination to generate a current profile as an updated default profile; and transmitting the current profile to a server as a candidate profile.

Abstract: An apparatus configured to reduce drag is provided. The apparatus includes a piezoelectric bellow configured to generate airflow, a power controller configured to output a signal to actuate the piezoelectric bellow, and a controller configured to control the power controller based on at least one from among pressure information and vehicle speed.

Abstract: An imaging device includes a casing, a lens and an adjusting mechanism. The lens is disposed in the casing. The lens includes a focus ring. The adjusting mechanism includes an adjusting module and a rod member. The adjusting module is movably disposed on the casing. The adjusting module includes a slot. The rod member is disposed on the focus ring and located in the slot. When the adjusting module moves with respect to the casing, a side wall of the slot drives the rod member to move, such that the rod member drives the focus ring to rotate.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for fabricating a heterogeneous nickel-based catalyst on an aluminum oxide support. The method includes a solution preparation step, a drop-cast step, a first calcining step, and a second calcining step. The solution preparation step is provided for preparing a precursor solution. The drop-cast step is provided for dropping the precursor on the support. The first calcining step is provided for obtaining an oxidation state catalyst. The second calcining step is provided for obtaining the heterogeneous nickel-based catalysts on aluminum oxide support.