Abstract: An electrical system includes a battery, temperature sensor, and battery charging station connectable to the battery and to an alternating current (AC) power supply. The charging station includes connected battery charging and heating circuits. The charging circuit includes a first plurality of power switches configured to rectify an AC input voltage from the power supply into a direct current (DC) voltage for charging the battery during a battery charging mode. The heating circuit includes a voltage bus, transformer, series switch, and a second plurality of power switches downstream of the transformer. The heating circuit generates an AC battery current from the DC voltage and injects the same into the battery during a battery heating mode. An electronic controller controls the power switches and the series switch to perform the charging and heating modes, doing so via a corresponding method.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a propulsion system having multiple electric motors. A battery system is connected to the electric motors via a direct current to direct current (DC-DC) converter and an inverter. The battery system includes a battery assembly having a plurality of battery modules. Each of the battery modules has multiple individual battery cells arranged in battery packs, a set of sensors configured to monitor a set of parameters of each battery pack, and a plurality of battery pack mounts. Each battery pack mount includes a base plate and a top plate and an actuator configured to alter a distance between plates. A monitoring unit is configured to monitor a value representative of a battery pack pressure, determine whether the value falls within a pressure threshold window, and maintain the value within the pressure threshold window by actively altering the battery pack pressure.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a propulsion system having multiple electric motors. A battery system is connected to the electric motors via a direct current to direct current (DC-DC) converter and an inverter. The battery system includes a battery assembly having a plurality of battery modules. Each of the battery modules has multiple individual battery cells arranged in battery packs, a set of sensors configured to monitor a set of parameters of each battery pack, and a plurality of battery pack mounts. Each battery pack mount includes a base plate and a top plate and an actuator configured to alter a distance between plates. A monitoring unit is configured to monitor a value representative of a battery pack pressure, determine whether the value falls within a pressure threshold window, and maintain the value within the pressure threshold window by actively altering the battery pack pressure.

Abstract: A battery electric system includes an inverter connected to a battery pack and a direct current (DC) voltage bus, first and second electrical switches, and a battery controller. The first switch is connected between the inverter and battery pack, and opens during an alternating current (AC) self-heating mode of the battery pack. This mode includes generating an AC waveform through the battery pack via the inverter at a controlled amplitude. The second switch, which is connected to the inverter and the first switch, closes during the self-heating mode. The controller, in response to calibrated entry criteria, opens the first switch, closes the second switch, and controls ON/OFF conducting states of the power switches to self-heat the battery pack using the AC waveform. The entry criteria includes required charging of the battery pack while a temperature of the battery pack is less than a calibrated temperature limit.

Abstract: A climate control device includes a radiant heater for radiating heat and a porous material attached to the radiant heater. The porous material desorbs a plurality of water molecules, in response to the porous material receiving heat from the radiant heater and raising a temperature of the water molecules in the porous material to a boiling temperature threshold. The porous material adsorbs the water molecules in response to the temperature of the water molecules falling below the boiling temperature threshold.

Abstract: A heat pipe is provided for cooling an electronic component of a printed circuit board. The heat pipe includes a tube having an inner diameter surface defining a bore, with the tube having first and second ends along the bore. The heat pipe further includes a sorbent material coated onto the inner diameter surface of the tube, a first liquid contained within the bore, and a second liquid adsorbed by the sorbent material. The second liquid has a second boiling temperature that is higher than a first boiling temperature of the first liquid. The first liquid vaporizes into a first vapor, in response to the tube receiving heat from the electronic component and the first liquid reaching the first boiling temperature. The second liquid is desorbed from the sorbent material and vaporizes into a second vapor in response to the second liquid reaching the second boiling temperature.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods are described that combine a sorbent containing a flame retardant with a substrate, which is capable of responding to temperature increases to prevent, suppress, delay the spread of, or otherwise mitigate a proximal thermal event. A flame retardant system has a flame retardant material that is incorporated into a matrical sorbent material, which is incorporated into a substrate. The matrical sorbent material is configured to release the flame retardant material upon exposure to an elevated temperature, e.g., a temperature that is greater than 300° C. in one embodiment.

Abstract: One general aspect includes a system having one or more heat pads installed at a vehicle, the one or more heat pads configured to provide infrared energy transmissions to a vehicle component to defrost, defog, or both defrost and defog a surface of the vehicle component. The system may also carry out the following steps: (a) determining that ice or fog or both ice and fog has accumulated on the surface of the vehicle component; and (b) based on the determination made in step (a), activating the one or more heat pads to defrost, defog, or both defrost and defog a surface of the vehicle component.

Abstract: A heat dissipation device for an electronics cooling system having an electronic component includes a housing that defines a chamber. The device further includes a first liquid, which is contained within the chamber and has a first boiling temperature. The device further includes a sorbent material immersed within the first liquid. The device further includes a second liquid, which is adsorbed by the sorbent material and has a second boiling temperature that is above the first boiling temperature. The first liquid vaporizes into a first vapor, in response to the first liquid reaching the first boiling temperature. The second liquid is desorbed from the sorbent material, in response to the second liquid and the sorbent material reaching a desorption temperature that is below the second boiling temperature. The second liquid vaporizes into a second vapor, in response to the second liquid reaching the second boiling temperature.

Abstract: A system and method for personalization of adjustable features of a vehicle. The system includes a processor and an actuator. The processor detectors key points of a person from a two-dimensional image and predicts a pose of the person. The processor translates a respective position of the key points from a two-dimensional coordinate system to a three-dimensional coordinate system based in part on the pose and measurements of distances between the key points. The processor determines a baseline configuration of an adjustable feature of the vehicle based in part on measurements between the key points in the three-dimensional coordinate system. The processor causes an actuator to adjust the adjustable feature to conform to the baseline configuration.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods are described that combine a sorbent containing a flame retardant with a substrate, which is capable of responding to temperature increases to prevent, suppress, delay the spread of, or otherwise mitigate a proximal thermal event. A flame retardant system has a flame retardant material that is incorporated into a matrical sorbent material, which is incorporated into a substrate. The matrical sorbent material is configured to release the flame retardant material upon exposure to an elevated temperature, e.g., a temperature that is greater than 300° C. in one embodiment.

Abstract: A heat pipe is provided for cooling an electronic component of a printed circuit board. The heat pipe includes a tube having an inner diameter surface defining a bore, with the tube having first and second ends along the bore. The heat pipe further includes a sorbent material coated onto the inner diameter surface of the tube, a first liquid contained within the bore, and a second liquid adsorbed by the sorbent material. The second liquid has a second boiling temperature that is higher than a first boiling temperature of the first liquid. The first liquid vaporizes into a first vapor, in response to the tube receiving heat from the electronic component and the first liquid reaching the first boiling temperature. The second liquid is desorbed from the sorbent material and vaporizes into a second vapor in response to the second liquid reaching the second boiling temperature.

Abstract: A heat dissipation device for an electronics cooling system having an electronic component includes a housing that defines a chamber. The device further includes a first liquid, which is contained within the chamber and has a first boiling temperature. The device further includes a sorbent material immersed within the first liquid. The device further includes a second liquid, which is adsorbed by the sorbent material and has a second boiling temperature that is above the first boiling temperature. The first liquid vaporizes into a first vapor, in response to the first liquid reaching the first boiling temperature. The second liquid is desorbed from the sorbent material, in response to the second liquid and the sorbent material reaching a desorption temperature that is below the second boiling temperature. The second liquid vaporizes into a second vapor, in response to the second liquid reaching the second boiling temperature.

Abstract: A climate control device includes a radiant heater for radiating heat and a porous material attached to the radiant heater. The porous material desorbs a plurality of water molecules, in response to the porous material receiving heat from the radiant heater and raising a temperature of the water molecules in the porous material to a boiling temperature threshold. The porous material adsorbs the water molecules in response to the temperature of the water molecules falling below the boiling temperature threshold.

Abstract: A vehicle including an advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) and operator-adjustable devices is described. Controlling the vehicle includes identifying a vehicle operator, and capturing a plurality of operator-selectable settings associated with the plurality of operator-adjustable devices for the vehicle operator. A base profile and a second profile are determined for the vehicle operator based upon the first subset associated with non-autonomous operation of the vehicle and the second subset associated with ADAS, respectively. The plurality of operator-adjustable devices are controlled to the operator-selectable settings associated with the base profile when the vehicle is operating in the non-autonomous mode, and the plurality of operator-adjustable devices are controlled to the operator-selectable settings associated with the second profile when the vehicle is being controlled at least in part by one or more of the subsystems of the ADAS.

Abstract: One general aspect includes a system having one or more heat pads installed at a vehicle, the one or more heat pads configured to provide infrared energy transmissions to a vehicle component to defrost, defog, or both defrost and defog a surface of the vehicle component. The system may also carry out the following steps: (a) determining that ice or fog or both ice and fog has accumulated on the surface of the vehicle component; and (b) based on the determination made in step (a), activating the one or more heat pads to defrost, defog, or both defrost and defog a surface of the vehicle component.

Abstract: A workpiece is described, and includes a substrate, a cable, and a cover piece. A portion of the cable is joined to the substrate employing a vibration welding tool, and the cover piece is interposed between the portion of the cable and the vibration welding tool during the joining.

Abstract: A system and method for personalization of security features of a vehicle. The system includes a memory having computer readable instructions and one or more processors for executing the computer readable instructions, the computer readable instructions controlling the one or more processors to perform operations. The operations include detecting a person in a cabin of a vehicle. At least one adjustable vehicle setting is detected in relation to the person in the cabin of the vehicle. The adjustable vehicle setting is compared to a stored adjustable vehicle setting in a first user profile. Operation of the vehicle by the person in the cabin of the vehicle is enabled based on the comparison and a permitted level of access from the first user profile.

Abstract: A system and method for personalization of adjustable features of a vehicle. The system includes a processor and an actuator. The processor detectors key points of a person from a two-dimensional image and predicts a pose of the person. The processor translates a respective position of the key points from a two-dimensional coordinate system to a three-dimensional coordinate system based in part on the pose and measurements of distances between the key points. The processor determines a baseline configuration of an adjustable feature of the vehicle based in part on measurements between the key points in the three-dimensional coordinate system. The processor causes an actuator to adjust the adjustable feature to conform to the baseline configuration.

Abstract: A vehicle including an advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) and operator-adjustable devices is described. Controlling the vehicle includes identifying a vehicle operator, and capturing a plurality of operator-selectable settings associated with the plurality of operator-adjustable devices for the vehicle operator. A base profile and a second profile are determined for the vehicle operator based upon the first subset associated with non-autonomous operation of the vehicle and the second subset associated with ADAS, respectively. The plurality of operator-adjustable devices are controlled to the operator-selectable settings associated with the base profile when the vehicle is operating in the non-autonomous mode, and the plurality of operator-adjustable devices are controlled to the operator-selectable settings associated with the second profile when the vehicle is being controlled at least in part by one or more of the subsystems of the ADAS.