Abstract: Methods and systems for driving vehicle accessories of a vehicle that includes an automatic transmission are presented. In one non-limiting example, the vehicle accessories are driven via a vehicle's kinetic energy while an engine of the vehicle has stopped rotating. Vehicle accessories are driven from a location of a driveline downstream of a torque converter impeller.

Abstract: An electrified vehicle includes a vehicle body establishing an interior space, a battery pack mounted within the interior space, and a battery thermal management system including a control module configured to command evacuation of hot air within the interior space if an external temperature of the battery pack exceeds a predefined temperature threshold.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle includes interior sensors including a camera, IR camera, electro-chemical sensor, humidity sensor, and temperature sensor. Initial and final outputs of these sensors are captured for a trip conveying one or more passengers. If changes in the outputs of the sensors are detected, whether the final outputs of the sensors are acceptable may be evaluated. In some embodiments, an aggregation of the outputs is evaluated and found unacceptable even where individual outputs are acceptable. Outputs may be presented to a dispatcher to confirm that the outputs are unacceptable. If the outputs are found to be unacceptable, the vehicle may be autonomously driven to a cleaning station. Personal items may be identified in camera outputs and alerts generated in response.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting engine operation of a hybrid vehicle to increase power output, and fuel efficiency. In one example, a method may include operating the engine using an Atkinson cycle during a lower than threshold engine torque demand, and a lower than threshold battery state of charge, and operating the engine using an Otto cycle during a higher than threshold torque demand. During operating in the Otto cycle, an octane booster may be injected to the fuel line to increase the octane level in the fuel.

Abstract: Methods and systems for driving vehicle accessories of a vehicle that includes an automatic transmission are presented. In one non-limiting example, the vehicle accessories are driven via a vehicle's kinetic energy while an engine of the vehicle has stopped rotating. Vehicle accessories are driven from a location of a driveline downstream of a torque converter impeller.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes circulating a fluid along a fluid circuit that extends through a heat exchanger and a battery pack, and, during the circulating, heating the fluid with a flow of exhaust gas and using the fluid to heat the battery pack. An exemplary vehicle system includes a battery pack, a heat exchanger, a fluid circuit configured to circulate a fluid between the battery pack and the heat exchanger, and a valve moveable back and forth between a heating position and a cooling position. The valve in the heating position permits more flow along an exhaust circuit to heat the fluid in the fluid circuit than the valve in the cooling position.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for condensate management in an EGR cooler of an engine system. In one example, an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system with an EGR cooler is coupled to an exhaust system and to an intake system of an engine. The EGR cooler includes an inlet coupled to the exhaust system, a first outlet coupled to the exhaust system, and a second outlet coupled to the intake system, the second outlet positioned vertically higher than the first outlet.

Abstract: A battery system of a vehicle includes a battery, a battery tray configured to support the battery, and a battery pouch. The pouch has a plurality of side walls and a bottom defining a space sized to accommodate the battery. The side walls each include an absorbent layer containing a base, such as sodium bicarbonate, and an outer layer impervious to the electrolyte and the base. One of the side walls is a front side wall that includes a wedge that is configured to mate with a front of the battery and the tray. The wedge cooperates with a bottom lip of the battery to secure the battery to the tray.

Abstract: A charge plate receiver assembly for an electric vehicle includes an inductive charge plate receiver and a swing arm pivotally secured to a mounting surface. The charge plate receiver is pivotally secured to the swing arm such that the charge plate receiver travels along an arc defined by a length of the swing arm when the assembly moves between a retracted position and a deployed position. When retracted, the charge plate receiver may retract into a cavity, defined by under-body components. The charge plate receiver has a planar surface and the planar surface is generally perpendicular to a horizontal plane of the vehicle in the retracted position and parallel with the horizontal plane of the vehicle in the deployed position.

Abstract: A process for synthesizing pirfenidone from bromobenzene having less than about 0.15% by weight dibromobenze is disclosed. Also disclosed are processes of synthesizing pirfenidone without using ethyl acetate or n-butanol, and pirfenidone having controlled levels of ethyl acetate, n-butanol, di(5-methyl-2-pyridinone)benzenes, and other impurities having specified retention times. Also disclosed are formulated dosage forms including the disclosed pirfenidone.

Abstract: Methods and systems for self-service checkout. In an embodiment, a mobile device processor of a consumer's mobile device receives input data of an item selected for a purchase transaction, displays information concerning the item on a display screen, and receives an indication from a consumer that shopping is completed. The method includes transmitting checkout data for the purchase transaction to a self-service checkout computer, receiving a transaction authorization message and merchant instructions from the self-service checkout computer, and then displaying on the display screen the transaction authorization message and the merchant instructions, wherein the merchant instructions direct the consumer to exit the particular merchant store in a particular manner.

Abstract: A process for synthesizing pirfenidone from bromobenzene having less than about 0.15% by weight dibromobenze is disclosed. Also disclosed are processes of synthesizing pirfenidone without using ethyl acetate or n-butanol, and pirfenidone having controlled levels of ethyl acetate, n-butanol, di(5-methyl-2-pyridinone)benzenes, and other impurities having specified retention times. Also disclosed are formulated dosage forms including the disclosed pirfenidone.

Abstract: A process for synthesizing pirfenidone from bromobenzene having less than about 0.15% by weight dibromobenze is disclosed. Also disclosed are processes of synthesizing pirfenidone without using ethyl acetate or n-butanol, and pirfenidone having controlled levels of ethyl acetate, n-butanol, di(5-methyl-2-pyridinone)benzenes, and other impurities having specified retention times. Also disclosed are formulated dosage forms including the disclosed pirfenidone.

Abstract: A process for synthesizing pirfenidone from bromobenzene having less than about 0.15% by weight dibromobenze is disclosed. Also disclosed are processes of synthesizing pirfenidone without using ethyl acetate or n-butanol, and pirfenidone having controlled levels of ethyl acetate, n-butanol, di(5-methyl-2-pyridinone)benzenes, and other impurities having specified retention times. Also disclosed are formulated dosage forms including the disclosed pirfenidone.

Abstract: A process for synthesizing pirfenidone from bromobenzene having less than about 0.15% by weight dibromobenze is disclosed. Also disclosed are processes of synthesizing pirfenidone without using ethyl acetate or n-butanol, and pirfenidone having controlled levels of ethyl acetate, n-butanol, di(5-methyl-2-pyridinone)benzenes, and other impurities having specified retention times. Also disclosed are formulated dosage forms including the disclosed pirfenidone.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a self-service checkout computer receives checkout data from a mobile device of a consumer. The checkout data includes merchant identity data, transaction details and payment account data. The transaction details and the payment account data are transmitted to a merchant server or a gateway server for purchase transaction authorization. If the purchase is authorized, the self-service checkout computer transmits a purchase transaction authorization message to the consumer's mobile device for display on a display screen. In some embodiments, if a transaction declined notification is received instead of a purchase transaction authorization, the self-service checkout computer transmits the transaction declined notification to the consumer's mobile device for display.

Abstract: A process for synthesizing pirfenidone from bromobenzene having less than about 0.15% by weight dibromobenze is disclosed. Also disclosed are processes of synthesizing pirfenidone without using ethyl acetate or n-butanol, and pirfenidone having controlled levels of ethyl acetate, n-butanol, di(5-methyl-2-pyridinone)benzenes, and other impurities having specified retention times. Also disclosed are formulated dosage forms including the disclosed pirfenidone.

Abstract: A process for synthesizing pirfenidone from bromobenzene having less than about 0.15% by weight dibromobenzene is disclosed. Also disclosed are processes of synthesizing pirfenidone without using ethyl acetate or n-butanol, and pirfenidone having controlled levels of ethyl acetate, n-butanol, di(5-methyl-2-pyridinone)benzenes, and other impurities having specified retention times. Also disclosed are formulated dosage forms including the disclosed pirfenidone.

Abstract: A beverage cooling container comprising a container body comprising a floor and a wall; a water level limiter, for limiting a water level in the contained area to a water level limit positioned between the floor and the filling opening, the water level limit defining a chilling zone and defining an ice reserve zone for storing reserve ice to replenish the chilling zone the reserve zone height being more than one-ninth the chilling zone height; and a beverage chiller, positioned at least partly within the chilling zone, configured to facilitate chilling within the chilling zone.

Abstract: Disclosed are thermally-stable, anthraquinone colorant compounds (dyes) which contain one or more vinyl groups which render the compounds copolymerizable with reactive vinyl monomers to produce colored, polymeric compositions such as acrylate and methacrylate polymeric materials. The compounds possess good fastness (stability) to ultraviolet (UV) light, good solubility in vinyl monomers, good color strength and excellent thermal stability. Also disclosed are (1) coating composition comprising (i) one or more polymerizable vinyl compounds, (ii) one or more of the dye compounds described above, and (iii) a photoinitiator and (2) polymeric materials, i.e., polymers derived from one or more acrylic acid esters, one or more methacrylic acid esters, one or more other polymerizable vinyl compounds or mixtures of any two or more thereof, having copolymerized therein one or more of the anthraquinone colorant compounds.