Abstract: A method for charging an electric storage battery in a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle through a power supply circuit, includes coupling the charger to the circuit, determining whether another appliance in the circuit other than the charger is drawing current, determining a maximum charge rate at which the battery can be charged using the charger, charging the battery at the maximum charge rate if no other appliance in the circuit is drawing current, and charging the battery at less than the maximum charge rate if another appliance in the circuit is drawing current.

Abstract: A benefit analysis system allows a user to compare energy consumption between a first electrified vehicle and a second vehicle. A data collector receives user driving characteristics. A parameter calculation module determines a peak parameter, a width parameter, a weigh factor, a scale factor, and a frequency parameter in response to the user driving characteristics. An analyzer is responsive to the parameters from the parameter calculation module to generate respective energy consumption results for the first and second vehicles. The analyzer represents an individual trip chain distribution as a composite function including a habitual component defined by the peak parameter and the width parameter and a non-habitual component defined by the scale factor. The composite function combines the habitual component and the non-habitual component according to the weight factor. The analyzer determines the energy consumption results in response to the individual trip chain distributions.

Abstract: A parallel hybrid electric vehicle method and system including an internal combustion engine (ICE), an electric traction motor/generator, and a controller. A control strategy is provided to prevent unpredicted or undesired engine starts by anticipating the need for the vehicle engine, while avoiding “false starting” the engine or allowing an annoying lag in performance that will occur if the engine is not started in advance of an actual requirement. The invention anticipates the need for engine starts and electromotive driving by monitoring vehicle speed and driver commands and their rates of change. The invention allows consistent performance and establishes seamless transitions between engine driving and electromotive driving.

Abstract: A method for charging an electric storage battery in a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle through a power supply circuit, includes coupling the charger to the circuit, determining whether another appliance in the circuit other than the charger is drawing current, determining a maximum charge rate at which the battery can be charged using the charger, charging the battery at the maximum charge rate if no other appliance in the circuit is drawing current, and charging the battery at less than the maximum charge rate if another appliance in the circuit is drawing current.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a process for providing a hard, transparent, hydrophobic film of hydrogenated boron nitride on a substrate and the film so made. The process comprises depositing the film condensation from a flux of ions generated from gaseous precursors comprising borazine, the kinetic energy of the ions being between 50 and 300 electron volts per ion. Preferably the process is plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition carried out in a radio frequency plasma system.

Abstract: The electrochemical method of this invention allows deposition of an electrically conductive trans-polyacetylene film on a substrate from a solution comprising substantially dehydrated ethyl alcohol.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a method for enhancing the diamond nucleation on a substrate prior to providing a diamond film thereon. More particularly, it is directed to a method which involved ultrasonic treatment of the substrate surface with a fluid consisting essentially of unsaturated oxygen-free hydrocarbons and diamond grit.

Abstract: Methods for making mechanical and micro-electromechanical devices (a) forming a mold having a base and metallic walls defining a molding space therebetween, the base being exposed between the metallic walls and either being capable of or having a nucleating upper surface capable of nucleating the deposition of a structural material which does not nucleate on or adhere to the metallic walls at conditions of deposition; (b) depositing a structural material onto either the nucleating upper surface or base and filling to a predetermined height to form a strong solid body; and (c) removing the metallic walls, leaving free-standing, solid body walls of structural material attached to the base; another embodiment of the method may include step (a) and steps (b) filling the molding space with a diamond-nucleating material; (c) consolidating the diamond-nucleating material so as to form a strong solid body; and (d) removing the metallic walls, and thereby freeing the solid body, by dissolving the metallic walls with a

Abstract: A powertrain component (10) for use in an internal combustion engine, the powertrain component comprising a coating system including an amorphous or nanocrystalline ceramic film (30). The powertrain component (10) also includes an interlayer (42) formed between the film and the component. The interlayer (42) accommodates stresses engendered by formation of the film (30), and thereby improves adherence of the film (30) to the substrate (10). To enable engineering of desired surface properties, the film (30), the interlayer (42), or both may be provided with a graded composition profile.

Abstract: A powertrain component (10) for use in an internal combustion engine, the powertrain component comprising a coating system including a film (30) selected from the group consisting of amorphous hydrogenated carbon, silicon-doped amorphous hydrogenated carbon, boron-, nitrogen-, boron nitride-, or metal-doped amorphous hydrogenated carbon, and mixtures thereof. The film (30) is formed on the powertrain component (10), and imparts the characteristics of low friction and wear resistance to the component. The powertrain component (10) also includes an interlayer (42) formed between the film and the component. The interlayer (42) accommodates stresses engendered by formation of the film (30), and thereby improves adherence of the film (30) to the substrate (10). To enable engineering of desired surface properties, the film (30), the interlayer (42), or both may be provided with a graded composition.

Abstract: Provided is a method and apparatus for in-situ measuring filament temperature and the thickness of a film deposited on a substrate disposed within a hot-filament chemical vapor deposition reactor. In accordance with the invention, white light which is emitted directly from the filament and that reflects from the top and bottom surfaces of a deposited film are collected and converted to monochromatic light through the use of simple narrow-banned interference filters operative over specific, yet different, optical banned widths. This information is thereafter used to mathematically calculate the filament temperature, film thickness and growth rate of the deposited film.

Abstract: A powertrain component such as a valve lifter (10) for use in an internal combustion engine (12), the valve lifter (10) being positioned between a cam (14) and a valve stem (16). An amorphous hydrogenated carbon film (28) is formed on the component, the film (28) imparting the characteristics of low friction and wear resistance. Also disclosed is an interlayer which improves adherence by imparting the properties of improved absorption of mechanical stresses and chemical compatibility between the film (28) and the substrate (10). Methods for forming the film (28) and interlayer are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of growing high purity diamond crystallite structures at relatively high growth rates on a temperature resistant substrate, comprising (a) flowing diamond producing feed gases at low pressure through a reaction chamber containing the substrate, the feed gases being comprised of hydrocarbon devoid of methyl group gases, i.e., acetylene or ethylene, diluted by hydrogen, and (b) while concurrently raising the temperature of the substrate to the temperature range of 600.degree.-1000.degree. C., thermally activating the feed gases by use of a hot filament located within the chamber and upstream and adjacent the substrate, the filament being heated to a temperature above 1900.degree. C., that is effective to generate a substantial atomic hydrogen (H) concentration and carbon containing free radicals. A substantial additional loss in carbon balance of the gases is triggered at a lower filament temperature indicative of the formation of intermediate substances that stimulate diamond growth.

Abstract: Method of fabricating free-standing diamond films by depositing and adhering polycrystalline diamond by hot filament chemical vapor deposition (1-100 Torr, filament temperature equal to or greater than 1900.degree. C., substrate temperature of 650.degree.-950.degree. C.) onto a substrate meltable at a temperature slightly in excess of the deposition temperature; and (b) prior to cooling said polycrystalline diamond particles, increasing (50.degree.-300.degree. C.) the substrate temperature to melt at least a portion thereof while permitting such melt to emigrate from the diamond films.

Abstract: A superhard carbon composition, having a crystal structure cell consisting of (i) a unit cell of six carbon atoms with crystallographic hexagonal symmetry, (ii) all carbon atoms in flat three-fold coordinated configurations (sp.sup.2 bonding), and (iii) carbon atoms in layers of chains which zig-zag in a direction normal to the layers with each layer being rotated 60.degree. with respect to its adjacent layer. The composition has a density of about 3.2 g/cm.sup.3, a bulk modulus and a hardness exceeding diamond (bulk modulus is 6.9 Mbar), and a bonding length of 1.45-1.47 angstroms.

Abstract: An interposed layer of amorphous carbon promotes the adhesion between conductive substrates and electrochemically deposited polymers. Such a carbon layer may be deposited directly onto the conductive substrate by conventional methods such as, for example, chemical vapor deposition. The subsequently applied electrochemically deposited polymer adheres more tenaciously to the amorphous carbon coating than if it had been electrodeposited directly onto the conductive substrate.