Abstract: A method for estimating a state of a battery pack using a controller having battery state estimator (BSE) logic includes receiving or delivering a constant baseline current via the battery pack. Current oscillations having time-variant frequency content are selectively injected into the baseline current via the controller in response to a predetermined condition. The baseline current and the current oscillations combine to form a final current. The method includes estimating a battery parameter via the BSE logic concurrently with the current oscillations to generate an estimated battery parameter, and estimating the present state of the battery pack via the controller using the estimated battery parameter. An electrical system includes a rotary electric machine that is electrically connected to and driven by the battery pack, and a controller configured to execute the method.

Abstract: System and method of dynamically balancing a rechargeable energy storage assembly having two or more respective units, a respective switch for each of the respective units and at least one sensor. The system includes a controller configured to control operation of the respective switch. The respective switch is configured to enable a respective circuit connection to the respective units when in an ON state and disable the respective circuit connection when in an OFF state. The respective units are characterized by a respective state of charge obtained based in part on the at least one sensor. A controller is configured to selectively employ at least one of a plurality of charging modes to charge one or more of the respective units, through operation of the respective switch. The plurality of charging modes includes a rest charging mode, a rapid initial charging mode and a rapid final charging mode.

Abstract: A battery system is electrically connected to a power bus that is arranged to supply electric power to an on-vehicle actuator such as an electric traction machine. Controlling electric power flow in the battery pack includes determining states of charge for the plurality of battery packs, identifying one of the battery packs as a weakest battery pack based upon the states of charge, and determining an internal circulating current being transferred via the wiring harness that is associated with charging of the weakest battery pack. Electric power transfer through the wiring harness and the power bus is controlled such that the internal circulating current is less than an internal circulating current limit. In one embodiment, the internal circulating current limit is determined in relation to battery temperature.

Abstract: A system for use with a direct current fast-charging (DCFC) station includes a controller and battery system. The battery system includes first and second battery packs, and first, second, and third switches. The switches have ON/OFF conductive states commanded by the controller to connect the battery packs in a parallel-connected (P-connected) or series-connected (S-connected) configuration. An electric powertrain with one or more electric machines is powered via the battery system. First and second charge ports of the system are connectable to the station via a corresponding charging cable. The first charge port receives a low or high charging voltage from the station. The second charge port receives a low charging voltage. When the station can supply the high charging voltage to the first charge port, the controller establishes the S-connected configuration via the switches, and thereafter charges the battery system solely via the first charge port.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes a bed including a frame. A mattress is supported by the frame. A respiratory therapy apparatus is supported by the frame. A pneumatic system is operable to inflate at least one bladder of the mattress and operable to deliver air to the respiratory therapy apparatus.

Abstract: A method of using a control system to estimate range of an electrified vehicle operated by a driver includes monitoring a first set of driver behaviors while the vehicle is in operation and comparing the monitored first set of driver behaviors to a plurality of known profiles having respective stored behaviors. The method may include matching the first set of driver behaviors to at least one of the known profiles to create an adapted driver model, modeling an adapted drive cycle profile based on the matched adapted driver model, and calculating a predicted driving range based on the adapted drive cycle profile. The method may classify the monitored first set of driver behaviors as at least one of conservative, neutral, and aggressive, relative to the plurality of known profiles, and model the adapted drive cycle profile is further based on the conservative, neutral, or aggressive classification.

Abstract: A diagnostic system for a fuel injector includes a plurality of sensors to sense vehicle data. A controller includes a fuel injector diagnostic module configured to receive the vehicle data during operation of the vehicle and to selectively identify at least one of a fuel injector with a stuck armature and a fuel injector with pintle fatigue.

Abstract: Management system for a rechargeable energy storage device in an electric vehicle and corresponding method is disclosed. The rechargeable energy storage device has one or more battery packs each having a plurality of modules with one or more respective cells. A respective module management unit is embedded in each of the plurality of modules through respective microcircuits and configured to determine one or more local parameters. A supervisory controller is configured for two-way communication with the respective module management unit. The supervisory controller is configured to receive the local parameters, determine one or more global pack parameters based in part on the local parameters and transmit the global pack parameters back to the respective management unit. The supervisory controller is configured to control operation of the rechargeable energy storage device based in part on the global pack parameters and the local parameters.

Abstract: A distributed battery power system having a battery pack and a battery controller. The battery pack has: a plurality of cells configured to generate a plurality of cell voltages; a voltage current temperature module electrically connected to the plurality of cells; and a plurality of isolation switch sets electrically connected between the plurality of cells. The battery controller is in communication with the voltage current temperature module, and operable to: send a status request to the voltage current temperature module; receive the plurality of cell voltages from the voltage current temperature module in response to the status request; determine if the plurality of cells includes one or more problem cells in response to the plurality of cell voltages; and perform an action in response to determining that the one or more problem cells are present to prevent damage to the one or more problem cells.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes a frame and a mattress positioned on the frame. A respiratory therapy device is coupled to the frame. The respiratory therapy device includes a blower having an inlet and an outlet, a patient interface, and a valve including a valve member that is rotatable through a first angular displacement in a first direction from a first position to a second position. The outlet of the blower is coupled to the patient interface so that positive pressure is provided to a patient's airway via the patient interface when the valve member is in the first position. The inlet of the blower is coupled to the patient interface so that negative pressure is provided to the patient's airway via the patient interface when the valve member is in the second position.

Abstract: Powerflow is managed using a method, e.g., in a powertrain system having a multi-pack rechargeable energy storage system (RESS) with parallel battery packs. Each pack has a corresponding maximum electrical (current or voltage) limit. The method includes predicting a corresponding terminal voltage for each pack using the corresponding maximum electrical limit. The method includes selecting a terminal voltage as a selected voltage based on a requested operating mode, including selecting a maximum of the terminal voltages when the requested operating mode is a discharging mode and a minimum of the same when the requested operating mode is a charging mode. A pack current through each pack is predicted using the selected voltage and a corresponding battery state space model. A total power capability of the RESS is predicted over a predetermined prediction horizon using the selected voltage, with the operating mode controlled over the prediction horizon via the controller.

Abstract: A diagnostic system for a fuel injector includes a plurality of sensors to sense vehicle data. A controller includes a fuel injector diagnostic module configured to receive the vehicle data during operation of the vehicle and to selectively identify at least one of a fuel injector with a stuck armature and a fuel injector with pintle fatigue.

Abstract: An emissions control system for a motor vehicle that includes an internal combustion engine includes a first selective catalytic reduction (SCR) device and a reductant injector, The system further includes a model-based controller that is configured to calculate a target amount of reductant to inject to maintain a predetermined ratio between an amount of NH3 and an amount of NOx at the outlet of the first SCR device, and to send a command for receipt by the reductant injector to inject the calculated amount of reductant. The model-based controller is further configured to send a command for receipt by an engine controller to influence NOx production by the engine by modifying an engine operating parameter, based on a calculated target amount of NOx at the inlet of the first SCR device.

Abstract: A system for monitoring operation of a vehicle includes a processing device including an interface configured to receive measurement data from sensing devices configured to measure parameters of a vehicle system. The processing device is configured to receive measurement data from each of the plurality of sensing devices, and in response to detection of a malfunction in the vehicle, input at least a subset of the measurement data to a machine learning classifier associated with a vehicle subsystem, the classifier configured to define a class associated with normal operation of the vehicle subsystem. The processing device is also configured to determine whether the subset of the measurement data belongs to the class, and based on at least a selected amount of the subset of the measurement data being outside of the class, output a fault indication, the fault indication identifying the vehicle subsystem as having a contribution to the malfunction.

Abstract: System and method of controlling power distribution from a charging source to an electric vehicle having a battery. The system includes a plurality of switches selectively connectable between the charging source, the battery and a thermal circuit. A controller is configured to control operation of the plurality of switches to provide multiple settings for the electric vehicle. The controller is configured to select from the multiple settings based on part on a trigger signal from a mobile application. The multiple settings include an external power mode, a charging mode, a discharging mode and a mixed charging and conditioning mode. The mixed charging and conditioning mode allows charging of the battery concurrently with thermal conditioning of at least one of the battery and a cabin of the vehicle. The mixed charging and conditioning mode enables a power split between a thermal conditioning power (PT) and a charging power (PC).

Abstract: A current command module is configured to, based on a direct current (DC) bus voltage for an electric motor of the vehicle, generate a d-axis current command for the electric motor and a q-axis current command for the electric motor. A voltage command module configured to generate voltage commands based on the d-axis current command and the q-axis current command. A battery switching control module is configured to: determine a voltage operating state of a battery based on the voltage commands; compare a battery parameter to at least one of a predetermined voltage parameter and a predetermined current parameter during a dwell time when a plurality of switches of the battery are open; and generate a switch control signal to transition at least one switch of the plurality of switches to cause the battery to operate in the voltage operating state based on the comparison.

Abstract: Presented are model predictive control (MPC) systems, methods, and devices for regulating operation of hybrid powertrains. A method of controlling a hybrid powertrain includes a controller determining path plan data, including a vehicle origin, destination, and predicted path. Based on this path plan data, the controller estimates vehicle velocities for multiple rolling road segments of the predicted path and, based on the estimated velocities, determines an estimated power request—transmission input torque and/or vehicle axle torque—for each road segment. The controller calculates a minimum cost function such that total fuel consumption to generate the engine power output is minimized. Minimizing the cost function is subject to battery pack current limits and state of charge (SOC) terminal costs at the ends of the rolling road segments. Command signals are sent to the engine and motor to output engine and motor torque based on the calculated minimum cost function.

Abstract: A control system to control slip of a torque converter clutch includes a clutch plant model configured to predict a value of a parameter that relates to torque converter clutch slip as a function of clutch plant model inputs comprising commanded clutch pressure and of torque from the torque generative device. The control system also includes a model predictive controller configured to receive signals that allow determination of a desired value of the parameter that relates to torque converter clutch slip and a predicted value of the parameter that relates to torque converter clutch slip, receive a signal representing reported torque of the torque generative device, identify an optimal commanded clutch pressure value that will result in an optimal value of an objective function based on the clutch plant model, and provide a command signal to an actuator effective to control commanded clutch pressure to the torque converter clutch.

Abstract: Powerflow of a rechargeable energy storage system (RESS) is managed according to a method. The RESS has series-connected first and second battery elements with different characteristics. Each element, e.g., a pack, has a corresponding maximum or minimum voltage or current limit. Currents are predicted for each of the first and second battery elements via a controller using a corresponding voltage limit. A requested operating mode of the RESS is used to select a current for the elements. A voltage across the elements is predicted using the selected current and a corresponding battery state space model. The method predicts a total power capability of the RESS over a prediction horizon using the selected current to generate predicted power capability values. The requested operating mode is controlled over the horizon using the power capability values. A powertrain system includes the RESS, an inverter, an electric machine, and the controller.

Abstract: Presented are battery pack voltage-switching (“V-switch”) systems, methods for making/operating such systems, and multi-pack, electric-drive motor vehicles with battery pack V-switch capabilities. A method for controlling operation of a vehicle includes a vehicle controller receiving a voltage switch signal to change a voltage output of the vehicle's battery system. The vehicle controller determines if a speed of a traction motor is less than a calibrated base speed; if so, the controller transmits a pack isolation signal to a power inverter to electrically disconnect the traction battery packs from the traction motor. The vehicle controller determines if a bus current of a DC bus is less than a calibrated bus current threshold; if so, the controller transmits an open signal to open one or more pack contactor switches and a close signal to close one or more pack contactor switches thereby causing the vehicle battery system to output the second voltage.