Abstract: A photovoltaic module, including a laminate including a solder strip; and a junction box arranged on a surface of the laminate and including a plate connected to the solder strip by laser soldering. The plate has a first region and a second region, in which a region covered by the solder strip on the plate is the first region, and a region not covered by the solder strip on the plate is the second region. A soldering seam formed by laser soldering includes a first soldering seam and a second soldering seam. The first soldering seam is located in the first region, and the first soldering seam extends through the solder strip into the plate along a thickness direction of the laminate. The second soldering seam is located in the second region, and the second soldering seam extends directly into the plate along the thickness direction of the laminate.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relates to a photovoltaic module and a method for producing the photovoltaic module. The photovoltaic module includes a photovoltaic laminate and a junction box. The photovoltaic laminate includes a plurality of solar cells, at least one solder strip, a rear plate and a wiring member. The at least one solder strip is electrically connected with the wiring member. The junction box includes a bonding pad. The wiring member passes through an opening defined on the rear plate and abuts the bonding pad, and the wiring member is connected with the bonding pad by laser welding. A plurality of weld seams are formed in a welding region. Each weld seam extends from the wiring member towards interior of the bonding pad, and an extension depth of each weld seam in the bonding pad is not greater than 80% of a thickness of the bonding pad.

Abstract: A vehicle diagnostic apparatus includes a receiver, an electronic controller and a display. The receiver is configured to receive information from a vehicle monitor. The electronic controller is configured to determine a status of the monitor, and output the status in an 8 bit format based on the information received from the vehicle monitor, at least two of the bits in the 8 bit format indicating a predetermined status of the vehicle monitor. The display is configured to display the output.

Abstract: A thermostat monitoring method includes measuring an engine coolant temperature with an engine coolant temperature sensor a predetermined amount of time after engine startup, comparing, with a controller, the engine coolant temperature to determine whether the engine coolant temperature has met a predetermined threshold, when the engine coolant temperature has met the predetermined threshold, measuring a plurality of engine coolant temperatures with the engine coolant temperature sensor, comparing with the controller each of the plurality of engine coolant temperatures with a corresponding predetermined temperature model, and increasing a passing index with the controller for each of the plurality of engine coolant temperatures that is greater than the corresponding predetermined temperature model or reducing the passing index for each of the plurality of engine coolant temperatures that is less than the corresponding predetermined temperature model.

Abstract: A thermostat monitoring method includes measuring an engine coolant temperature with an engine coolant temperature sensor a predetermined amount of time after engine startup, determining with a controller one of four zones to determine whether a thermostat will pass or fail, based on the one of four zones determined, accumulate with the controller one a pass index or a failing index, when the pass index reaches a first threshold, reporting a pass with the controller, and when the failing index reaches a second threshold, reporting a fail with the controller.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating an engine operated by a controller that has a capacity to determine whether or not misfire occurs in the engine are presented. In one example, an operating region of the engine is broken into a plurality of zones and a misfire threshold level is dynamically provided for each of the plurality of zones based on slowly updated zone-level statistical parameters and quickly updated buffer-level parameters. The real-time dynamic misfire thresholds provide a basis for determining misfire within the engine.

Abstract: A vehicle diagnostic apparatus includes a receiver, an electronic controller and a display. The receiver is configured to receive information from a vehicle monitor. The electronic controller is configured to determine a status of the monitor, and output the status in an 8 bit format based on the information received from the vehicle monitor, at least two of the bits in the 8 bit format indicating a predetermined status of the vehicle monitor. The display is configured to display the output.

Abstract: An exhaust gas temperature sensor diagnostic system includes an exhaust gas temperature sensor, a controller and a storage device. The controller is programmed to wakeup after a predetermined time after engine shutdown, determine a temperature of the sensor and ambient temperature, calculate a difference in the temperature of the sensor after wakeup to a temperature of the sensor at engine shutdown, determine an estimated temperature of the sensor based on the ambient temperature and the predetermined time, add the difference in the temperature of the sensor at wakeup to the estimated temperature to determine a compensated estimated sensor reading, determine a difference between the compensated estimated sensor reading and a corrected sensor reading, compare the difference between the compensated estimated sensor reading and a corrected sensor reading to a threshold to determine whether the sensor is operating properly. The storage device is configured to store information related to the sensor.

Abstract: A self-correcting exhaust gas temperature sensor system includes an exhaust gas temperature sensor, a controller and a storage device. The exhaust gas temperature sensor is configured to be disposed in an exhaust manifold of a vehicle. The controller is programmed to determine a reading of the exhaust gas temperature sensor at a predetermined time, determine a comparative temperature value, calculate an offset difference between the comparative temperature value and the reading of the exhaust gas temperature sensor, and based on the offset difference relative of the comparative temperature value, replace an exhaust gas temperature sensor offset value with the offset difference or with a threshold value. The storage device is configured to store the offset difference or the threshold value.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for detecting spark plug fouling and cleaning up fouled spark plug during pre-delivery phase of a vehicle. In one example, a method may include updating a spark plug fouling index saved in the non-volatile memory of the vehicle based on engine operating parameters, and indicating spark plug fouling based on the updated index. The method may further include cleaning the fouled spark plug by driving the vehicle along a planned route.

Abstract: A fuel cap detection system includes a charcoal canister, a notification system, and an electronic controller. The charcoal canister is connected to a fuel tank of a vehicle, the charcoal canister includes a vent valve. The notification system is configured to notify a user when a fuel cap is incorrectly positioned. The electronic controller is configured to perform a leak detection test on the fuel tank by activating the vent valve in the charcoal canister to determine whether the fuel cap is positioned incorrectly, and determine an intent of the user to reposition the fuel cap while the notification system notifies the user that the fuel cap is incorrectly positioned.

Abstract: A thermostat monitoring method includes measuring an engine coolant temperature with an engine coolant temperature sensor a predetermined amount of time after engine startup, comparing, with a controller, the engine coolant temperature to determine whether the engine coolant temperature has met a predetermined threshold, when the engine coolant temperature has met the predetermined threshold, measuring a plurality of engine coolant temperatures with the engine coolant temperature sensor, comparing with the controller each of the plurality of engine coolant temperatures with a corresponding predetermined temperature model, and increasing a passing index with the controller for each of the plurality of engine coolant temperatures that is greater than the corresponding predetermined temperature model or reducing the passing index for each of the plurality of engine coolant temperatures that is less than the corresponding predetermined temperature model.

Abstract: An exhaust gas temperature sensor diagnostic system includes an exhaust gas temperature sensor, a controller and a storage device. The controller is programmed to wakeup after a predetermined time after engine shutdown, determine a temperature of the sensor and ambient temperature, calculate a difference in the temperature of the sensor after wakeup to a temperature of the sensor at engine shutdown, determine an estimated temperature of the sensor based on the ambient temperature and the predetermined time, add the difference in the temperature of the sensor at wakeup to the estimated temperature to determine a compensated estimated sensor reading, determine a difference between the compensated estimated sensor reading and a corrected sensor reading, compare the difference between the compensated estimated sensor reading and a corrected sensor reading to a threshold to determine whether the sensor is operating properly. The storage device is configured to store information related to the sensor.

Abstract: A self-correcting exhaust gas temperature sensor system includes an exhaust gas temperature sensor, a controller and a storage device. The exhaust gas temperature sensor is configured to be disposed in an exhaust manifold of a vehicle. The controller is programmed to determine a reading of the exhaust gas temperature sensor at a predetermined time, determine a comparative temperature value, calculate an offset difference between the comparative temperature value and the reading of the exhaust gas temperature sensor, and based on the offset difference relative of the comparative temperature value, replace an exhaust gas temperature sensor offset value with the offset difference or with a threshold value. The storage device is configured to store the offset difference or the threshold value.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining air-fuel error in an engine fueled via direct and port fuel injection. Errors associated with individual fuel injection systems are distinguished from a common error based on trends in the error correction coefficients of the individual fuel injection systems. Adaptive fuel multipliers for each injection system are updated to account for the common error.

Abstract: Misfire detection techniques for a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) including an internal combustion engine and an electric motor involve utilizing a crankshaft speed sensor configured to generate a crankshaft speed signal indicative of a rotational speed of a crankshaft of the engine that is coupled to the electric motor via a flywheel. The techniques also utilize a controller configured to control the electric motor to provide a vibrational response to dampen disturbances to the crankshaft, receive the crankshaft speed signal, selectively modify the crankshaft speed signal to obtain a modified crankshaft speed signal, and detect a misfire of the engine based on the modified crankshaft speed signal and a set of thresholds including at least one of a negative misfire threshold and a positive vibrational response threshold.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for detecting spark plug fouling and cleaning up fouled spark plug during pre-delivery phase of a vehicle. In one example, a method may include updating a spark plug fouling index saved in the non-volatile memory of the vehicle based on engine operating parameters, and indicating spark plug fouling based on the updated index. The method may further include cleaning the fouled spark plug by driving the vehicle along a planned route.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating an engine operated by a controller that has a capacity to determine whether or not misfire occurs in the engine are presented. In one example, an operating region of the engine is broken into a plurality of zones and a misfire threshold level is dynamically provided for each of the plurality of zones based on slowly updated zone-level statistical parameters and quickly updated buffer-level parameters. The real-time dynamic misfire thresholds provide a basis for determining misfire within the engine.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining air-fuel error in an engine fueled via direct and port fuel injection. Errors associated with individual fuel injection systems are distinguished from a common error based on trends in the error correction coefficients of the individual fuel injection systems. Adaptive fuel multipliers for each injection system are updated to account for the common error.

Abstract: Rationality diagnostic techniques for an intake oxygen sensor are utilized to detect sensor malfunction. A non-intrusive diagnostic technique includes passively detecting when an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve position crosses low/high position thresholds, whereas an intrusive diagnostic technique includes actively commanding the EGR valve to predetermined low/high positions. During a period after the EGR valve position reaches/crosses at least one of the low/high positions/position thresholds, respectively, maximum and minimum intake oxygen concentration is monitored. When the EGR valve position has crossed both the low/high positions/position thresholds and a difference between the maximum and minimum oxygen concentrations is less than a respective difference threshold, a malfunction of the intake oxygen sensor is detected. A malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) could be set to indicate the malfunction.