Abstract: Systems and methods for diagnosing and operating an engine with a fuel pump that supplies fuel to a fuel injector that may be temporarily deactivated are described. In one example, injection of fuel may commence in response to a level of lubrication of a fuel pump. The system and methods may extend fuel pump life in systems where fuel injection may be deactivated.

Abstract: A battery charger may be capable of receiving power from a power distribution circuit including a fuse and may be configured to reduce reactive power through the fuse caused by at least one load, other than the charger, electrically connected with the power distribution circuit.

Abstract: A vehicle may include an electric machine that generates motive power for the vehicle, a plurality of cells that store energy for the electric machine, and at least one controller. The at least one controller may cause the cells to receive current for a period of time and, during the period of time, cause at least some of the cells to supply cell load current such that at the expiration of the period of time, the amount of energy stored by the cells is at least equal to a predetermined target energy level.

Abstract: A power system for a vehicle may include at least one controller and a battery having a plurality of cells. The at least one controller may, for each of the cells, determine a capacity of the cell, determine a duration of time to supply cell load current to reduce the determined capacity of the cell to a value approximately equal to a minimum of the determined capacities, and cause the cell to supply cell load current for the determined duration of time to balance the battery.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle capable of receiving power from a power distribution circuit including a power line and return line includes a controller disposed within the vehicle. The controller is configured to be electrically connected with the power distribution circuit, determine a difference between a resistance of the power line and a resistance of the return line, and control a current flow through the distribution circuit based on the determined difference.

Abstract: A power system for a vehicle may include at least one controller and a battery having a plurality of cells. The at least one controller may, for each of the cells, determine a voltage of the cell, determine a discharge time to reduce the voltage to a value approximately equal to a minimum of the determined voltages, and cause the cell to discharge for the discharge time to balance the battery.

Abstract: A diagnostic system for a power distribution circuit including a line, neutral and ground may include a switch configured to electrically connect the line and neutral, a first sensor configured to sense a line to neutral electrical parameter, and a second sensor configured to sense a neutral to ground electrical parameter. The system may also include a processor configured to close the switch, to observe at least some of the sensed electrical parameters before and after the switch is closed, and to identify a fault condition in the line or neutral based on the observed electrical parameters.

Abstract: A vehicle power system includes a battery having a plurality of cells and at least one controller. The at least one controller causes the cells to acquire charge for a period of time such that at the expiration of the period of time, voltages of some of the cells are approximately equal to a specified voltage, amp·hours stored by other of the cells are approximately equal, and an amount of energy stored by the battery is at least equal to a predetermined target energy amount.

Abstract: A power system for a vehicle may include at least one controller and a battery having a plurality of cells. The at least one controller may, for each of the cells, determine a voltage of the cell, determine a discharge time to reduce the voltage to a value approximately equal to a minimum of the determined voltages, and cause the cell to discharge for the discharge time to balance the battery.

Abstract: An insulated electric conductor having a copper core, a layer of aluminum formed on the copper core, and a second layer of aluminum in the form of a high-purity aluminum is disclosed. The copper core may be a solid core or may be formed from a plurality of copper strands. The layer of aluminum formed over the copper core is at least partially anodized to form an aluminum oxide dielectric layer. The layer of high-purity aluminum may be formed by evaporation deposition, sputter deposition, or co-extrusion. Once the layer of high-purity aluminum is formed, it is anodized. More than two layers of aluminum may be formed over the copper core.

Abstract: A method of anodizing a coil comprised of wire having a copper core and a layer of a metal formed on the core is disclosed. The metal has electrically insulating characteristics when anodized. Two variations of the method are provided. In the first variation the metal-clad wire is partially anodized prior to being wound on a spool to form a coil. Once the partially anodized wire is wound onto a spool the coiled wire is anodized to complete anodization. The anodized coiled wire may be rinsed to remove residual electrolytic material. In the second variation the metal-clad wire is wound on a spool to form a coil. The coiled wire is then anodized. The method of the disclosed invention reduces or entirely eliminates the presence of micro cracks in the oxide layer. The resulting coil may be used in motors, electromagnets, generators, alternators and subsystems for the same.

Abstract: An insulated electric conductor and method for making such a conductor are disclosed. The conductor comprises a copper core, a layer of aluminum formed over the copper core, an aluminum oxide dielectric layer formed over the layer of aluminum, and a thin polymeric layer formed over said aluminum oxide dielectric layer. The thin polymeric layer is preferably between about 30 microns (0.001?) and about 500 microns (0.02?) and is more preferably between about 45 microns (0.0015?) and about 250 microns (0.01?). The polymeric layer may be any polymeric material selected from the group consisting of acrylic resins, epoxy resins, polyurethane resins, and silicone resins. Other polymeric materials may be used. The polymeric layer may be formed by a variety of methods including, but not limited to, spraying, brushing, dipping, and powder coating.

Abstract: A power system for a vehicle may include at least one controller and a battery having a plurality of cells. The at least one controller may, for each of the cells, determine a voltage of the cell, determine a discharge time to reduce the voltage to a value approximately equal to a minimum of the determined voltages, and cause the cell to discharge for the discharge time to balance the battery.

Abstract: A power system for a vehicle may include at least one controller and a battery having a plurality of cells. The at least one controller may, for each of the cells, determine a capacity of the cell, determine a duration of time to supply cell load current to reduce the determined capacity of the cell to a value approximately equal to a minimum of the determined capacities, and cause the cell to supply cell load current for the determined duration of time to balance the battery.

Abstract: A vehicle may include an electric machine that generates motive power for the vehicle, a plurality of cells that store energy for the electric machine, and at least one controller. The at least one controller may cause the cells to receive current for a period of time and, during the period of time, cause at least some of the cells to supply cell load current such that at the expiration of the period of time, the amount of energy stored by the cells is at least equal to a predetermined target energy level.

Abstract: A vehicle power system includes a battery having a plurality of cells and at least one controller. The at least one controller causes the cells to acquire charge for a period of time such that at the expiration of the period of time, voltages of some of the cells are approximately equal to a specified voltage, amp·hours stored by other of the cells are approximately equal, and an amount of energy stored by the battery is at least equal to a predetermined target energy amount.

Abstract: A power system for a vehicle may include at least one controller and a battery having a plurality of cells. The at least one controller may, for each of the cells, determine a voltage of the cell, determine a discharge time to reduce the voltage to a value approximately equal to a minimum of the determined voltages, and cause the cell to discharge for the discharge time to balance the battery.

Abstract: Systems and methods for diagnosing and operating an engine with a fuel pump that supplies fuel to a fuel injector that may be temporarily deactivated are described. In one example, injection of fuel may commence in response to a level of lubrication of a fuel pump. The system and methods may extend fuel pump life in systems where fuel injection may be deactivated.

Abstract: A battery charger may be capable of receiving power from a power distribution circuit. The charger may be configured to receive a request for reactive power and, in response, cause the requested reactive power to be present on the power distribution circuit.

Abstract: A system and method for stereo photography is provided. The system comprises a first light source, a second light source and a photodetector. The first light source is configured to illuminate one or more first non-white colors on an object. The second light source is configured to illuminate one or more second non-white colors that are different from the first non-white colors on the object. The photodetector is configured to detect a three dimensional representation of the object at a single moment in time in response to the first light source illuminating the first non-white colors and the second light source illuminating the second non-white colors on the object.