Abstract: A battery pack thermal management assembly is provided for use with an electric vehicle in which the battery pack is sealed and mounted under the car. The batteries contained within the battery pack are thermally coupled via a layer of thermally conductive material to the interior surface of the pack's upper enclosure panel. The upper enclosure panel is thermally coupled via an interposed panel to a conduit structure, the conduit structure formed by a shaped conduit panel that is attached to a secondary panel.

Abstract: A method of positioning a vehicle seat is provided in which the vehicle seat is configured to allow movement laterally (i.e., side-to-side), fore-aft (i.e., forwards-backwards), and rotationally. In addition to allowing a user to select a particular seat position, the method monitors an internal vehicle door handle and automatically moves the seat from its current position to a preset position whenever the door handle is activated (e.g., touched).

Abstract: A battery pack thermal management assembly is provided for use with an electric vehicle in which the battery pack is sealed and mounted under the car. The batteries contained within the battery pack are thermally coupled via a layer of thermally conductive material to the interior surface of the pack's upper enclosure panel. A secondary panel is thermally coupled to the pack's upper enclosure panel. A shaped conduit panel is attached to the secondary panel. A cooling panel structure containing a coolant channel is defined by the surface of the secondary panel and the conduit panel's interior surface.

Abstract: A battery pack thermal management assembly is provided for use with an electric vehicle in which the battery pack is sealed and mounted under the car. The batteries contained within the battery pack are thermally coupled via a layer of thermally conductive material to the interior surface of the pack's upper enclosure panel. A shaped conduit panel is attached to the exterior surface of the pack's upper enclosure panel. A cooling panel structure containing a coolant channel is defined by the enclosure panel's exterior surface and the conduit panel's interior surface.

Abstract: A thermal management system that utilizes a multi-mode valve assembly within the drive train control loop to provide efficient thermal control of the drive train components is provided. The multi-mode valve assembly allows the mode of thermal coupling between the thermal control loop and the various drive train components (e.g., vehicle propulsion motor, gearbox assembly, power electronics subsystem, etc.) to be varied in accordance with present conditions.

Abstract: A multi-mode thermal management system is provided for use with the battery pack of an electric vehicle, the system utilizing the surface area of the battery pack to remove battery pack heat. The system includes two sets of coolant conduits separated by a thermal insulator, with one set of the coolant conduits thermally coupled to the batteries and the other set of coolant conduits coupled to at least one thermally conductive battery pack surface. A valve controller is used to optimize system performance by coupling the battery cooling conduits to the battery pack heat withdrawal conduits and/or a separate radiator and/or a heat exchanger coupled to a refrigeration subsystem.

Abstract: A multi-mode thermal management system is provided for use with the battery pack of an electric vehicle, the system utilizing the surface area of the battery pack to remove battery pack heat. The system includes two sets of coolant conduits separated by a thermal insulator, with one set of the coolant conduits thermally coupled to the batteries and the other set of coolant conduits coupled to at least one thermally conductive battery pack surface. A valve controller is used to optimize system performance by coupling the battery cooling conduits to the battery pack heat withdrawal conduits and/or a separate radiator and/or a heat exchanger coupled to a refrigeration subsystem.

Abstract: A battery pack thermal management assembly is provided for use with an electric vehicle in which the battery pack is sealed and mounted under the car. The batteries contained within the battery pack are thermally coupled via a layer of thermally conductive material to the interior surface of the pack's upper enclosure panel. A shaped conduit panel is attached to the exterior surface of the pack's upper enclosure panel. A cooling panel structure containing a coolant channel is defined by the enclosure panel's exterior surface and the conduit panel's interior surface.

Abstract: A battery pack thermal management assembly is provided for use with an electric vehicle in which the battery pack is sealed and mounted under the car. The batteries contained within the battery pack are thermally coupled via a layer of thermally conductive material to the interior surface of the pack's upper enclosure panel. A secondary panel is thermally coupled to the pack's upper enclosure panel. A shaped conduit panel is attached to the secondary panel. A cooling panel structure containing a coolant channel is defined by the surface of the secondary panel and the conduit panel's interior surface.

Abstract: A battery pack thermal management assembly is provided for use with an electric vehicle in which the battery pack is sealed and mounted under the car. The batteries contained within the battery pack are thermally coupled via a layer of thermally conductive material to the interior surface of the pack's upper enclosure panel. The upper enclosure panel is thermally coupled via an interposed panel to a conduit structure, the conduit structure formed by a shaped conduit panel that is attached to a secondary panel.

Abstract: A display system mounted within a vehicle is provided, where the system monitors the user's position within the vehicle's seat and automatically adjusts the location of the display to compensate for variations in the size or seating position of the user, thereby helping to alleviate the eye strain, fatigue, neck and back pain that often accompany the improper use of a monitor for an extended period of time.

Abstract: A method of positioning a vehicle seat is provided in which the vehicle seat is configured to allow movement laterally (i.e., side-to-side), fore-aft (i.e., forwards-backwards), and rotationally. In addition to allowing a user to select a particular seat position, the method monitors an internal vehicle door handle and automatically moves the seat from its current position to a preset position whenever the door handle is activated (e.g., touched).

Abstract: A battery pack with a compact and robust bus bar assembly is provided. The batteries within the pack are divided into groups, where the batteries within each battery group are connected in parallel and the groups are connected in series. A repetitive sequence of overlapping bus bars is used, with each bus bar comprised of upper and lower segments coupled together via a step segment. The overlapping design allows the upper surface of the upper segment of each of the repetitive bus bars to be aligned within an upper plane, and the lower surface of the lower segment of each of the repetitive bus bars to be aligned within a lower plane.

Abstract: A thermal management system that utilizes a multi-mode valve assembly within the drive train control loop to provide efficient thermal control of the drive train components is provided. The multi-mode valve assembly allows the mode of thermal coupling between the thermal control loop and the various drive train components (e.g., vehicle propulsion motor, gearbox assembly, power electronics subsystem, etc.) to be varied in accordance with present conditions.

Abstract: A thermal management system that utilizes a multi-mode valve assembly within the drive train control loop to provide efficient thermal control of the drive train components is provided. The multi-mode valve assembly allows the mode of thermal coupling between the thermal control loop and the various drive train components (e.g., vehicle propulsion motor, gearbox assembly, power electronics subsystem, etc.) to be varied in accordance with present conditions.

Abstract: A thermal management system that utilizes a multi-mode valve assembly within the drive train control loop to provide efficient thermal control of the drive train components is provided. The multi-mode valve assembly allows the mode of thermal coupling between the thermal control loop and the various drive train components (e.g., vehicle propulsion motor, gearbox assembly, power electronics subsystem, etc.) to be varied in accordance with present conditions.

Abstract: A method of positioning a vehicle seat is provided that allows a vehicle passenger seat, preferably a rear passenger seat mounted within the rear portion of the passenger cabin, to move laterally (i.e., side-to-side), fore-aft (i.e., forwards-backwards), and rotationally. As a result, an occupant of the passenger seat can optimize their seat position for the task at hand, e.g., relaxing, obtaining additional leg and/or shoulder room, rotating inwards during a conversation with others in the car, rotating outwards to aid vehicle egress, etc.

Abstract: A seat mounting system is provided that allows a vehicle passenger seat, preferably a rear passenger seat mounted within the rear portion of the passenger cabin, to move laterally (i.e., side-to-side), fore-aft (i.e., forwards-backwards), and rotationally. As a result, an occupant of the passenger seat can optimize their seat position for the task at hand, e.g., relaxing, obtaining additional leg and/or shoulder room, rotating inwards during a conversation with others in the car, rotating outwards to aid vehicle egress, etc. Seat movement may be performed automatically or manually using dual track assemblies.

Abstract: A retractable storage compartment that is accessible by the passengers in the rear portion of a vehicle's passenger cabin is provided. The storage compartment, which is integrated into the vehicle's center console, is mounted on a guide assembly in order to allow a rear passenger to easily open or close the compartment. The compartment may be configured as a simple storage area, or equipped with any of a variety of features such as an insulated ice chest, a refrigerator unit, a fold-out desk, etc. In addition to providing rear passenger access, the compartment may be configured to allow the passengers seated in the front of the car to access the compartment using a secondary, top-mounted door.

Abstract: A method of thermally pre-conditioning a vehicle's battery pack prior to vehicle departure is provided. The system, after determining that the vehicle is off and/or the driver has left the car, monitors a variety of conditions corresponding to both the vehicle and the driver in order to determine the probability of the driver requiring near-term use of the car. Typical monitored conditions may include driver and vehicle location, driver proximity, time of day, day of week, driver's upcoming appointments, and a historical data base that tracks driver behavior. Once the probability that the car will be needed within a preset time period exceeds a preset level, the system determines whether the battery pack should be heated or cooled based on the current battery pack temperature, and then activates an appropriate thermal management system.