Abstract: An engine includes a cylinder block defining a bank of cylinders having physically adjacent first and second cylinders. The engine also has a gas compressor configured to pressurize an ambient airflow for delivery to the first cylinder and the second cylinder. The engine additionally has intake valves configured to control delivery of the pressurized airflow as a first airstream to the first cylinder and a second airstream to the second cylinder for combustion therein. A firing interval for the two adjacent cylinders results in the first airstream temporally overlapping the second airstream. A charge-air cooler is configured to cool the pressurized airflow prior to delivery thereof to the first and second cylinders and includes a cold-side plenum for discharging the pressurized airflow toward the first and second cylinders. A partition in the cold-side plenum is configured to separate the first airstream from the second airstream and thereby minimize interference therebetween.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting a size of a person at an exterior of the space to be occupied are provided. The method includes: detecting, at an exterior of a vehicle, a size of a person approaching the vehicle to enter the vehicle; and adjusting a position of at least one from among a vehicle control, a vehicle mirror, and a vehicle seat based on the detected size of the person approaching the vehicle. The method and apparatus may be used to detect the size of a person intending to occupy a vehicle and to adjust positioning of various elements and controls based on the detected size prior to entering the vehicle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting a size of a person at an exterior of the space to be occupied are provided. The method includes: detecting, at an exterior of a vehicle, a size of a person approaching the vehicle to enter the vehicle; and adjusting a position of at least one from among a vehicle control, a vehicle mirror, and a vehicle seat based on the detected size of the person approaching the vehicle. The method and apparatus may be used to detect the size of a person intending to occupy a vehicle and to adjust positioning of various elements and controls based on the detected size prior to entering the vehicle.

Abstract: A gerotor assembly is provided which includes a crankshaft, an inner drive gear, an outer driven gear and a housing defining an oil groove. The inner drive gear defines a plurality of inner gear teeth. The outer driven gear defines a plurality of outer gear teeth operatively configured to engage with the inner gear teeth. The outer drive gear may define a plurality of passageways to form a hydrodynamic film between the outer driven gear and the housing. Alternatively, a high pressure oil pump may feed oil into the oil groove in order to distribute a hydrodynamic film.

Abstract: A turbocharger includes a compressor wheel configured to pressurize an airflow for delivery to an internal combustion engine. The turbocharger also includes a turbine wheel configured to be driven by the engine's post-combustion gases and drive the compressor wheel. The turbocharger additionally includes a waste-gate assembly. The waste-gate assembly includes a first waste-gate valve and a second waste-gate valve, wherein each of the first and second waste-gate valves is configured to selectively redirect at least a portion of the post-combustion gases away from the turbine wheel into the exhaust passage. A vehicle having an internal combustion engine operatively connected to such a turbocharger and also employing a controller configured to regulate the first and second waste-gate valves is also disclosed.

Abstract: A vehicle powertrain includes an engine having an air intake system and an exhaust system. A turbocharger includes a turbine section connected to the exhaust system and a compressor section connected to the air intake system. A wastegate is disposed in the exhaust system and movable between an open and a closed position by an actuator system. The actuator system includes an engagement device and detent mechanism for assisting with holding the wastegate in the closed position.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes an engine structure defining a cylinder having an intake port and an exhaust port. A piston is disposed in the cylinder and is drivingly connected to a crankshaft. A direct injection system injects fuel directly into the cylinder. A port fuel injection system injects fuel into the intake port. An oil temperature sensor and an engine speed sensor are in communication with a controller that controls the direct injection system and the port fuel injection system based on measured oil temperature and engine speed. In particular, the controller employs a control algorithm that alters the direct injection and port fuel injection split based on the measured oil temperature and engine speed. The maximum direct injection pressure reduction is limited by a maximum allowable port fuel injection duty cycle as determined by the controller.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and vehicles are provided for determining whether one or more doors of a vehicle are expected to contact the one or more objects when opened. In accordance with one embodiment, the vehicle includes, in addition to the one or more doors, one or more sensors, a memory, and a processor. The one or more sensors are configured to generate sensor data pertaining to one or more objects in proximity to a vehicle. The memory is configured to store a door geometry for the one or more doors. The processor is coupled to the one or more sensors and to the memory, and is configured to at least facilitate determining whether the one or more doors are expected to contact the one or more objects when opened, using the sensor data and the door geometry.

Abstract: A method of controlling a HVAC system of a vehicle includes repeatedly sensing an area of a window of the vehicle that is not covered by frost with a sensor positioned adjacent the window. When the sensed area not covered by frost is less than an area threshold value, a HVAC controller controls the HVAC system to operate in a defrost mode. When the sensed area not covered by frost is equal to or greater than the area threshold value the HVAC controller controls the HVAC system to operate in a cabin heating mode. The HVAC controller automatically switches the HVAC system from the defrost mode to the cabin heating mode when the sensed area not covered by frost increases to a value that is equal to or greater than the area threshold value.

Abstract: A turbocharger control system of a vehicle includes a trigger module that generates a trigger signal when a transmission of the vehicle is in one of (i) park and (ii) neutral. A wastegate target module, in response to the generation of the trigger signal, sets a target opening of a turbocharger wastegate to a predetermined opening and independently of a position of an accelerator pedal. The predetermined opening is greater than zero percent opening of the turbocharger wastegate. A wastegate actuator module actuates the turbocharger wastegate based on the target opening of the turbocharger wastegate.

Abstract: An engine includes a cylinder block defining a bank of cylinders having physically adjacent first and second cylinders. The engine also has a gas compressor configured to pressurize an ambient airflow for delivery to the first cylinder and the second cylinder. The engine additionally has intake valves configured to control delivery of the pressurized airflow as a first airstream to the first cylinder and a second airstream to the second cylinder for combustion therein. A firing interval for the two adjacent cylinders results in the first airstream temporally overlapping the second airstream. A charge-air cooler is configured to cool the pressurized airflow prior to delivery thereof to the first and second cylinders and includes a cold-side plenum for discharging the pressurized airflow toward the first and second cylinders. A partition in the cold-side plenum is configured to separate the first airstream from the second airstream and thereby minimize interference therebetween.

Abstract: A charge air cooler includes a plurality of coolant passages spaced from one another and in communication with an inlet port and an outlet port. A plurality of air cooling fins are disposed between adjacent ones of the plurality of coolant passages, wherein the charge air cooler defines a first region wherein the air cooling fins have a first fin density and a second region wherein the air cooling fins have a second fin density different than the first fin density. The air cooling fins can also be provided with different louver shapes or designs in order to tailor, improve or unify the heat transfer rate at different regions of the charge air cooler.

Abstract: One variation may include a product comprising a piston oil squirting system comprising at least one piston oil squirter operatively communicating with at least one engine oil channel and which is constructed and arranged to squirt oil at at least one piston; and at least one mechanism which is constructed and arranged to control a flow rate and a timing of at least one oil jet stream from the at least one piston oil squirter so that the oil jet stream flows at single or multiple intervals from a zero to a maximum flow rate within an engine cycle or a crankshaft revolution.

Abstract: A system includes a first scavenge oil pump that draws oil from a first draw location within a vehicle according to a first variable displacement associated with the first scavenge oil pump. The first variable displacement is based on a first modified scavenge ratio assigned to the first scavenge oil pump. An oil pump control module determines a first scavenge ratio, determines a first scavenge ratio multiplier based on at least one of vehicle acceleration and vehicle orientation, and applies the first scavenge ratio multiplier to the first scavenge ratio to generate the first modified scavenge ratio.

Abstract: One variation may include a product comprising a piston oil squirting system comprising at least one piston oil squirter operatively communicating with at least one engine oil channel and which is constructed and arranged to squirt oil at at least one piston; and at least one mechanism which is constructed and arranged to control a flow rate and a timing of at least one oil jet stream from the at least one piston oil squirter so that the oil jet stream flows at single or multiple intervals from a zero to a maximum flow rate within an engine cycle or a crankshaft revolution.

Abstract: An engine assembly generally includes an engine and an intake manifold. The engine includes a plurality of cylinders. The plurality of cylinders includes a pair of cylinders. The engine is configured to sequentially fire the pair of cylinders. The intake manifold defines a plurality of ports. Each port is in fluid communication with one of the plurality of cylinders. The plurality of ports includes a pair of ports. Each of the pair of ports is disposed in fluid communication with one of the pair of cylinders. The intake manifold further includes a baffle disposed between the pair of ports to restrict fluid flow within the intake manifold between the pair of ports.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine is disclosed which includes an improved crankcase drain back system. A set of drain flow diodes are disposed in each of the drain lines to direct fluid flow in a direction from the head portion to the crankcase. Likewise, a set of breather flow diodes are disposed in the breather lines to direct fluid flow in a second direction from the cylinder portion to the head portion. The flow diodes include a series of stacked flow diode elements which allow flow in one direction, while resisting flow in the opposite direction.

Abstract: An engine assembly generally includes an engine and an intake manifold. The engine includes a plurality of cylinders. The plurality of cylinders includes a pair of cylinders. The engine is configured to sequentially fire the pair of cylinders. The intake manifold defines a plurality of ports. Each port is in fluid communication with one of the plurality of cylinders. The plurality of ports includes a pair of ports. Each of the pair of ports is disposed in fluid communication with one of the pair of cylinders. The intake manifold further includes a baffle disposed between the pair of ports to restrict fluid flow within the intake manifold between the pair of ports.