Abstract: A vent assembly is disposed within an interior space of a vehicle for opening and closing fluid communication between the interior space and an exterior of the vehicle. The vent assembly includes a housing defining a plurality of openings and a plurality of vanes disposed in the openings. An actuator mechanism moves the vanes between an open position and a closed position, and includes a shaped memory alloy (SMA) member for actuating the vanes between the open and closed positions. The SMA member is activated when a hatch of the vehicle is opened to move the vanes into the open position and thereby open fluid communication between the interior space and the exterior to alleviate excessive air pressure buildup during closure of the hatch.

Abstract: A fuel control system of a vehicle includes an injection control module and a command module. The injection control module determines a first target amount of fuel for a combustion event of an engine. A command module selectively command the injection control module to provide two fuel injections when a torque request decreases. In response to the command, the injection control module: determines second and third target amounts of fuel based on the first target amount; provides a first fuel injection during the combustion event based on the second target amount; and provides a second fuel injection during a compression stroke of the combustion event based on the third target amount.

Abstract: An engine control system for a vehicle includes a target torque module that determines a target torque output of an engine based on at least one driver input. A target air per cylinder (APC) module determines a target APC for the engine based on the target torque. A target mass airflow (MAF) module determines a target MAF through a throttle valve of the engine based on the target APC, a number of activated cylinders of the engine, and a total number of cylinders of the engine. A throttle control module determines a target throttle opening based on the target MAF and controls opening of the throttle valve based on the target throttle opening.

Abstract: A method for detecting a mechanical overload condition of an energized linear actuator to prevent commanding an activation signal to the linear actuator that may mechanically overload the linear actuator includes monitoring feedback variation of a movable element associated with the linear actuator including monitoring a present feedback signal of the movable element, monitoring a previous feedback signal of the movable element, comparing the present feedback signal and the previous feedback signal and determining the feedback variation based on the comparing. The feedback variation is compared to a feedback variation threshold. An input signal associated with the activation signal for controlling the linear actuator is monitored and the input signal compared to an input signal threshold. The electrical overload condition is detected when the feedback variation is less than the feedback variation threshold and the input signal is greater than the input signal threshold.

Abstract: A vent assembly is disposed within an interior space of a vehicle for opening and closing fluid communication between the interior space and an exterior of the vehicle. The vent assembly includes a housing defining a plurality of openings and a plurality of vanes disposed in the openings. An actuator mechanism moves the vanes between an open position and a closed position, and includes a shaped memory alloy (SMA) member for actuating the vanes between the open and closed positions. The SMA member is activated when a hatch of the vehicle is opened to move the vanes into the open position and thereby open fluid communication between the interior space and the exterior to alleviate excessive air pressure buildup during closure of the hatch.

Abstract: A vehicle system includes a position sensor, a current supply module, and a mode indicator module. The position sensor includes: an electromagnet (EM) that generates a magnetic field proximate to one of an intake valve and an exhaust valve of an engine; and a Hall-effect sensor that generates a position signal indicating a position of the one of the intake valve and the exhaust valve based on the magnetic field. The current supply module supplies current to the EM. The mode indicator module indicates whether the one of the intake valve and the exhaust valve is being actuated in a low lift mode or a high lift mode based on the position signal.

Abstract: A fuel control system of a vehicle includes an injection control module and a command module. The injection control module determines a first target amount of fuel for a combustion event of an engine. A command module selectively command the injection control module to provide two fuel injections when a torque request decreases. In response to the command, the injection control module: determines second and third target amounts of fuel based on the first target amount; provides a first fuel injection during the combustion event based on the second target amount; and provides a second fuel injection during a compression stroke of the combustion event based on the third target amount.

Abstract: A vent assembly is disposed within an interior space of a vehicle for opening and closing fluid communication between the interior space and an exterior of the vehicle. The vent assembly includes a housing defining a plurality of openings and a plurality of vanes disposed in the openings. An actuator mechanism moves the vanes between an open position and a closed position, and includes a shaped memory alloy (SMA) member for actuating the vanes between the open and closed positions. The SMA member is activated when a hatch of the vehicle is open to move the vanes into the open position and thereby open fluid communication between the interior space and the exterior to alleviate excessive air pressure buildup during closure of the hatch.

Abstract: A control system for an engine is presented. The control system can include a transition period waveform monitor module, a stuck fuel injector detection module, and a fuel injection control module. The transition period waveform monitor module measures an electrical signal of a fuel injector upon deactivation of the fuel injector. The stuck fuel injector detection module detects a stuck fuel injector when an accumulated deviation of the electrical signal from a parameterized estimated reference waveform is outside of a predetermined range. The fuel injection control module controls fuel injection in the engine based on the detection of the stuck fuel injector.

Abstract: A method for detecting a clear path of travel for a vehicle utilizing analysis of a plurality of images generated by a camera device located upon the vehicle includes monitoring the images. The images are analyzed including determining a clear path upon which a potential road surface can be estimated from other portions of the images that do not indicate a potential road surface, and determining an image of a traffic infrastructure indication. The method further includes determining the content of the traffic infrastructure indication, modifying the clear path based upon the content of the traffic infrastructure indication, and utilizing the modified clear path in navigation of the vehicle.

Abstract: A method for detecting a clear path of travel for a vehicle utilizing analysis of a plurality of images generated by a camera device located upon the vehicle includes monitoring the images. The images are analyzed including determining a clear path upon which a potential road surface can be estimated from other portions of the images that do not indicate a potential road surface, and determining an image of a traffic infrastructure indication. The method further includes determining the content of the traffic infrastructure indication, modifying the clear path based upon the content of the traffic infrastructure indication, and utilizing the modified clear path in navigation of the vehicle.

Abstract: An on-vehicle DC/DC converter transforms high-voltage electric power originating from an on-vehicle high-voltage source to low-voltage electric power at a regulated voltage level. The low-voltage electric power is distributed by a low-voltage bus. A method for operating the DC/DC converter includes monitoring a state of charge and a temperature of a low-voltage battery connected to the low-voltage bus, setting a DC/DC converter command to a nominal voltage level as a function of the state of charge and temperature of the low-voltage battery, monitoring a total low-voltage electric load, and adjusting the DC/DC converter command to a minimum low-voltage reference voltage when the vehicle is operating below a predetermined speed and the total low-voltage electric load is greater than a predetermined load.

Abstract: A stator phase circuit for an electric machine includes a phase winding circuit including a plurality of series coupled sub-winding circuits, each sub-winding circuit includes a respective sub-winding coupled in parallel across a respective first controllable switch.

Abstract: A method for detecting a clear path of travel for a vehicle including fusion of clear path detection by image analysis and road geometry data describing road geometry includes monitoring an image from a camera device on the vehicle, analyzing the image through clear path detection analysis to determine a clear path of travel within the image, monitoring the road geometry data, analyzing the road geometry data to determine an impact of the data to the clear path, modifying the clear path based upon the analysis of the road geometry data, and utilizing the clear path in navigation of the vehicle.

Abstract: A stator phase circuit for an electric machine includes a phase winding circuit including a plurality of series coupled sub-winding circuits, each sub-winding circuit includes a respective sub-winding coupled in parallel across a respective first controllable switch.

Abstract: A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a cylinder activation module and a spark timing module. The cylinder activation module selectively deactivates and reactivates a cylinder of an engine based on a driver torque request. When the cylinder is deactivated, the spark timing module selectively increases an amount by which spark timing of at least one active cylinder of the engine is retarded based on noise and vibration generated by the engine when the cylinder is deactivated.

Abstract: A ranking module determines N ranking values for N predetermined cylinder activation/deactivation sequences of an engine, respectively. N is an integer greater than or equal to two. A cylinder control module, based on the N ranking values, selects one of the N predetermined cylinder activation/deactivation sequences as a desired cylinder activation/deactivation sequence for cylinders of the engine. The cylinder control module also: activates opening of intake and exhaust valves of first ones of the cylinders that are to be activated based on the desired cylinder activation/deactivation sequence; and deactivates opening of intake and exhaust valves of second ones of the cylinders that are to be deactivated based on the desired cylinder activation/deactivation sequence. A fuel control module provides fuel to the first ones of the cylinders and disables fueling to the second ones of the cylinders.

Abstract: A method for detecting a clear path of travel for a vehicle utilizing analysis of a plurality of images generated by a camera device located upon the vehicle includes monitoring the images wherein each image comprises a plurality of pixels, utilizing a texture-less processing scheme to analyze the images including filtering the image to separate portions of the image indicating a clear surface upon which a potential road surface can be estimated from other portions of the image that do not indicate a potential road surface. The clear path is determined based upon the clear surface and the clear path is utilized to operate the vehicle.

Abstract: Method for detecting a clear path of travel for a host vehicle including fusion of clear path detection by image analysis and detection of an object within an operating environment of the host vehicle including monitoring an image from a camera device, analyzing the image through clear path detection analysis to determine a clear path of travel within the image, monitoring sensor data describing the object, analyzing the sensor data to determine an impact of the object to the clear path, utilizing the determined impact of the object to describe an enhanced clear path of travel, and utilizing the enhanced clear path of travel to navigate the host vehicle.

Abstract: A method and system for integrating a camera-equipped handheld mobile device with a vehicle's electronic systems, such that the imaging capabilities of the mobile device can be utilized by the vehicle, and information from vehicle's systems can be utilized by the mobile device. The mobile device is placed in a mounting fixture, which can provide power to the mobile device, and is designed to dynamically aim the mobile device's camera based on driving conditions. The mobile device can communicate with the vehicle's systems wirelessly, or via a wired connection. Images from the mobile device's camera are provided to a processor onboard the vehicle, and can be used by vehicle safety and convenience systems. The mobile device can also receive information from the vehicle and use the information in applications on the mobile device. Computing workload can be shared between the vehicle's processor and the mobile device.