Abstract: Multiple rear sections can be pivotably coupled and foldable between a deployed arrangement in which a forward section and the rear sections are generally planar, and a storage arrangement in which the rear sections are folded into a stack. The forward section can be mounted to the cargo box and pivotably coupled to an adjacent rear section to support the stack in an upward angled position. The forward section can be formed of an extruded panel having an upper wall member and a lower wall member spaced apart from the upper wall member. The lower wall member can at least partially define a channel. An internal rib can extend between the upper wall member and the lower wall member.

Abstract: An automated vehicle sunshade includes a compartment mountable to a roof of a vehicle, a flexible shade, a plurality of rods coupled to the flexible shade and a drive device coupled to the plurality of rods and a spindle coupled to the flexible shade and operable by the drive device. The plurality of rods are retractable and extendable so that the sunshade repeatably alternates between an extended position and a retracted position. In the retracted position, the flexible shade, plurality of rods and drive device are enclosed within the compartment. The sunshade also rotates the spindle by operation of the drive device to allow the shade to extend and retract without snagging, tearing and to easily fit within the compartment.

Abstract: A split bushing torque strut isolator assembly for a vehicle is provided. The assembly includes a lower bushing configured to be disposed in a vehicle structural component, a bushing housing configured to be coupled to the vehicle structural component, an upper bushing disposed at least partially within the bushing housing, the upper bushing being separate from the lower bushing, and a torque rod having a first end and a second end, the second end being disposed between the upper and lower bushings. A method of assembling the split bushing torque strut isolator assembly is also provided.

Abstract: A control system for a hybrid vehicle configured to prevent an undesirable engagement of the selectable one-way clutch is provided. In order to reduce a drag torque resulting from a cranking of an engine to bring the selectable one-way clutch into engagement mode, the control system raises a temperature of lubrication oil before carrying out the cranking of the engine if it is too low, and carries out the cranking of an engine by a motor after the temperature of the lubrication oil is raised to a level at which viscosity thereof is reduced.

Abstract: A system, method, and device for operations of an electrically motorized vehicle. The vehicle can utilize an electrically motorized wheel to convert a non-motorized wheeled vehicle to an electrically motorized wheeled vehicle. A method of controlling the device of the electrically motorized wheel includes detecting a temperature of an electric motor of the electrically motorized wheel and controlling operation of the electric motor to maintain the detected temperature within a desired range.

Abstract: A work vehicle having an engine mounted thereto includes a vehicle body frame extending in the longitudinal direction of vehicle, a seat supporting deck supported to the vehicle body frame via a suspension unit, a driver's seat supported to the seat supporting deck upwardly of this seat supporting deck, a fuel tank supported to the seat supporting deck downwardly of the driver's seat and supplying fuel to the engine; and a canister supported to the seat supporting deck and connected to the fuel tank.

Abstract: A filler neck assembly includes a supporting part designed to be fixed at the inlet of a liquid tank positioned on a motor vehicle and said supporting part having a central through hole mainly formed about a central axis. The filler neck assembly also includes a tubular part that is positioned in said central through hole and said tubular part having a longitudinal axis. The filler neck assembly further includes a first abutment area and a second abutment area attached to one part which is selected between the supporting part and the tubular part, and a contacting area attached to the other part which is selected between the tubular part and the supporting part such that said contacting area can cooperate with one or other of the first and second abutment areas.

Abstract: A vehicle transfer case is provided including input and output shafts mounted within a housing, a secondary shaft selectively driven by the output shaft, a first hub having an inner diameter splined section having a first extreme neutral position with exclusive torsional engagement with the output shaft, and in a second intermediate high position having torsional engagement with the output shaft and input shafts, and in a third extreme low position having exclusive torsional engagement with the input shaft. A second hub is provided, rotatably mounted on the first hub and axially fixed therewith. The second hub is torsionally fixed to the output shaft, and a shift fork is provided to translate the second hub.

Abstract: A pedal reaction force applying device includes an acceleration pedal used in a stepping-in operation and a returning operation, a motor configured to apply a pedal reaction force acting on an acceleration pedal in the stepping-in operation and the returning operation, a power transmitting device provided between the acceleration pedal and the motor and including a speed-reduction mechanism, an operation direction determiner configured to determine an operation direction of the acceleration pedal, and a reaction force controller configured to control the pedal reaction force on the acceleration pedal. The reaction force controller controls a magnitude of the pedal reaction force by controlling a power of the motor based on the operation direction of the acceleration pedal determined by the operation direction determiner.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for evaluating an advised driving speed of a vehicle traversing a particular portion of a road network is disclosed. The method comprises accessing first predetermined data indicative of the variation in average fuel consumption for the vehicle with speed of the vehicle, using the first predetermined data to determine data indicative of average fuel consumption for the vehicle for a plurality of speeds within a range based on a speed limit for the portion of the road network being traversed, and evaluating the advised driving speed of the vehicle based at least in part on the determined data indicative of average fuel consumption for the vehicle for the range of speeds. The evaluation of the advised driving speed may further be based on second predetermined data indicative of the variation in a likelihood of the vehicle being in the highest gear with speed of the vehicle.

Abstract: A wading vehicle (100) having a water level sensor (114) comprising a hydrostatic pressure sensor.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a room mirror provided to be rotatable and providing a display mode, and a memory for storing an image capable of being displayed on the room mirror in the display mode, wherein, when the room mirror is rotated toward a front glass, the room mirror is converted into the display mode and displays the image stored in the memory.

Abstract: An information providing apparatus for a vehicle includes in-vehicle devices, a communication network connected to each of the in-vehicle devices, a storage portion in which a signal change pattern based on the condition of each of the in-vehicle devices is stored in associated state for each situation around the vehicle, a situation determining portion that determines the situation around the vehicle based on the signal change of at least one in-vehicle device and the stored signal change pattern, an information acquiring portion that acquires information on the condition of the in-vehicle device related to the determined situation around the vehicle, an information generating portion that generates notification information on a recommended operation based on the information on the condition of the related in-vehicle device, and an information presenting portion that presents the notification information on the recommended operation.

Abstract: An instrument system for a vehicle includes a sensor unit configured to detect a state of a vehicle and to output a state value indicating the state of the vehicle; an output device configured to visually display the state value; and a control unit configured to detect a degree of change in the state value and to adjust, based on the degree of the change in the state value, an interval by which the output device displays the state value.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes an engine; a traction battery; and a controller or a vehicle control system having a controller. The controller is programmed to respond to a state of charge (SOC) of the traction battery. When the SOC is greater than a predicted SOC the controller is programmed to decrease a SOC threshold at which the engine is shut down to reduce the SOC. The SOC threshold is defined by a difference between a maximum SOC and an expected change in the SOC associated with predicted regenerative energy for a drive cycle.

Abstract: A braking grid cooling system may include a fan having a hub supporting a rotor and at least partially enclosing a stator, and a plurality of fan blades connected to and projecting radially from the hub; and a dynamic braking grid receiving the fan in a nested relation such that a combined height of the grid and the fan is less than a sum of a height of the grid and a height of the fan.

Abstract: An electric vehicle comprises a cylinder lock including an operation key which is movable by a user's operation between a driving position and a charging position provided at a position different from the driving position and an output unit for outputting information indicative of a position of the operation key; and a main controller permits driving control and inhibits charging control when the operation key is moved to the driving position; and the main controller permits the charging control and inhibits the driving control when the operation key is moved to the charging position.

Abstract: A power supply apparatus includes a first battery, a second battery, and an ECU configured to determine whether the following conditions i), ii), and iii) are satisfied: i) a degree of deterioration of the second battery is lower than a first threshold; ii) a state-of-charge of the second battery is lower than a second threshold; and iii) the state-of-charge is equal to or higher than a third threshold. The second threshold is higher by a prescribed value than a lowest allowable value of the state-of-charge at which the second battery can function as a backup power supply. The third threshold corresponds to the lowest allowable value. When determining that the conditions i), ii) and iii) are all satisfied, the ECU executes single-battery-using control in which regeneration control using the regenerative electric power is executed with use of the first battery and the second battery is not used for regeneration control.

Abstract: A battery charging apparatus for charging an electric vehicle is described. The battery charging apparatus includes a charging body, a robot arm, and a feeding coupler. The charging body defines a receiving portion. The robot arm is movably coupled to a sidewall of the receiving portion and received in receiving portion. The feeding coupler is coupled to the robot arm and used to supply electric power to the electric vehicle. The robot arm is capable of extending from the receiving portion for coupling the feeding coupler to an electric vehicle. A battery charging method for charging an electric vehicle having a receiving coupler is also described.

Abstract: A polarized battery clamp includes a contact handle with an internal electrical path connecting a handle electrical connector at one end of the contact handle to a terminal contact pad at a second handle end, the contact handle also having an internal electrical contact bus connected to the electrical connector; and a contact arm having a terminal contact pad at a first arm end and a stepped pivot pin at a second arm end, the contact arm also having an electrical conductor electrically connected to the arm terminal contact pad; wherein the electrical conductor is placed into electrical contact with the electrical contact bus by inserting the stepped pivot pin into a handle positional slot.

Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with particular embodiments provide for alignment of an electric vehicle induction coil with a base system induction coil through a determination of the phase of a base system induction coil current signal. In certain embodiments, an electric vehicle induction coil that receives a transmission signal can be determined to be in greater alignment with a base system induction coil that transmits the transmission signal as the phases of the current signals at the base system induction coil and the electric vehicle induction coil converge. One embodiment includes a method of receiving wireless power, including detecting a transmission signal in a wireless power transmission, the transmission signal comprising periodic variations between a first frequency and a second frequency. The method further includes determining a phase of a base system induction coil signal based on the detected transmission signal.

Abstract: Power supply device is provided with the following: a power supply unit (121) that includes a spiral coil or a solenoid coil; a frequency characteristic acquisition unit (211) that acquires the frequency characteristics of the efficiency of the supply of power from the power supply unit to the power receiving device; a peak determining unit (212) that determines peaks in the frequency characteristics of the efficiency of power supply; and a drive frequency determination unit (213) that, if two peaks have been found, determines as the drive frequency used for supplying power a frequency near the frequency that is the lower of the frequencies of the two peaks, with the lower frequency being given priority over a frequency near the higher frequency.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for partial electronics integration in vehicle pads for wireless power transfer applications are provided. In one aspect, an apparatus for wirelessly receiving charging power is provided. The apparatus comprises a first enclosure including at least a receive coupler configured to generate an alternating current under the influence of an alternating magnetic field in a first enclosure. The first enclosure further includes a rectifier circuit configured to modify the alternating current to produce a direct current for output from the first enclosure to a controller circuit in a disparately located second enclosure. The apparatus further comprises at least one direct current inductor configured to receive the direct current from the rectifier circuit. In some implementations, the apparatus further comprises the controller circuit in the second enclosure. The controller circuit is configured to selectively provide the direct current to a battery.

Abstract: Cloud systems executing method operations for communicating with connected vehicles of users having user accounts with the cloud system are provided. In one example, a method includes receiving discounts published by merchants for presentation to a network of charging units (CUs), each of the CUs being associated to a geo-location. The method also includes receiving an identification of an electric vehicle that is associated to a user account. The identification of the electric vehicle is received when the electric vehicle has parked over a charging pad of a particular CU, and the charging pad is at a geo-location of the particular CU. The method also includes identifying at least one discount to be presented to a device of the electric vehicle. The identifying is a result of filtering discounts based on user preferences associated with the user account and a proximity of a merchant location to the particular CU having the charging pad over which the vehicle has parked.

Abstract: A controller is a controller for a secondary battery for which a lower limit SOC setting value and an upper limit SOC setting value are set in advance and that is used in a use potential width determined by the lower limit SOC setting value and the upper limit SOC setting value. This controller is configured to: compute a post-deterioration positive electrode use minimum potential that is shifted from an initial positive electrode use minimum potential to a high potential side due to the deterioration of the secondary battery; and reset the lower limit SOC setting value to a value that is lower than the lower limit SOC setting value set in advance and that is higher than the SOC 0% in accordance with a shift amount as a difference between the post-deterioration positive electrode use minimum potential and the initial positive electrode use minimum potential.

Abstract: A wakefulness-maintenance apparatus applies a stimulus, which is not perceived to be unpleasant to most seated persons, to a seated person, and effectively maintaining the wakefulness of the seated person. After a control device provided to the wakefulness-maintenance apparatus stimulates the seated person using a first stimulus at a timing close to a human heartbeat, if an index showing the wakefulness of the seated person departs within a predetermined time from a standard indicating that the wakefulness has been maintained, the control device drives a stimulus device to stimulate the seated person using a second stimulus having a timing that differs from the first stimulus.

Abstract: A vehicle system includes a front row seat and at least one controller. The front row seat may be a driver seat or a front passenger seat. The at least one controller may respond to a signal, for example, a signal transmitted from a key fob or a signal indicative of movement of a rear door handle. In response to the signal, the controller may move the front row seat based on data indicative of a size of a rear passenger expected to be seated behind the front row seat before the expected rear passenger enters the vehicle. The size of the rear passenger may be determined via data from an external object sensor such as a blind spot detection optical sensor, lidar sensor or ultrasonic sensor.

Abstract: A vehicle seat is capable of being shifted to a walk-in state without side support parts or a tilt part hindering the seat back from folding forward. A seat includes a seat cushion, a seat back, and a leg rest part. The seat is provided with side support parts at left and right sides of an occupant, and a tilt part that moves a front portion of the seat cushion upward and downward. The seat is further provided with a detecting part that detects a state of the seat back, and a control unit that causes at least one of the side support parts and the tilt part to transit from a deployed state to a housed state when the detecting part detects that a forward turn of the seat back is started.

Abstract: A vehicle seat may be adjusted to reposition the vehicle seat within a vehicle or a seat back with respect to a seat bottom of the vehicle seat. The vehicle seat may slide longitudinally relative to a floor of the vehicle. The seats back may fold toward or away from the seat bottom and the seat bottom may fold toward or away from the vehicle floor. Adjustments may be initiated electronically or manually.

Abstract: Systems and methods for seat positioning modification in a vehicle are described. One embodiment of a method includes arranging a first movable seat in a default arrangement of a vehicle in preparation for receiving a passenger and determining an occurrence of an external triggering event to the vehicle. Some embodiments include, in response to determining the occurrence of the external triggering event, automatically rearranging the first movable seat to a second arrangement to accommodate for the external triggering event.

Abstract: An adjustment device for adjusting a longitudinal position of a vehicle seat, comprises: a first guide rail; a spindle fixed to the first guide rail and extending along a longitudinal axis; a second guide rail being linearly movable along the longitudinal axis with respect to the first guide rail, the second guide rail having a base and a first leg extending from the base; and a gearing fixed to the second guide rail and having a housing, the gearing being in operative connection with the spindle to move the second guide rail relative to the first guide rail. At least one support member is arranged on the second guide rail, the at least one support member having a support face extending transversely to the longitudinal axis and facing the housing of the gearing for supporting the gearing with respect to the second guide rail.

Abstract: A rotational device (10) for a vehicle seat includes a base element (20) and a seat part support (30) which can be rotated about a rotational axis (S) with respect to the base element (20). At least three rolling bearings (61, 62, 63) are provided to rotationally support the seat part support (30).

Abstract: A vehicle seat with a backrest-side and/or a seat part-side base structure which comprises at least one movable sidepiece structure. At least the sidepiece structure of the base structure is made of at least one framework structure. The at least one sidepiece framework structure has flexurally elastic flanks and deflectable transverse braces which lie between the flanks and which are arranged on the flanks via elastic connecting element, whereby a force pulse that acts on the transverse braces of the at least one sidepiece framework structure from one direction via a flexurally elastic flank causes a compensating autoreactive deformation of the at least one sidepiece framework structure in the opposite direction at another point.

Abstract: A headrest is provided that can have increased comfort and safety. The headrest can include: an affixed-side member provided to a headrest pillar; a mobile-side member that is joined to the affixed-side member with a mobile mechanism therebetween and that can move in the front-back direction with respect to the affixed-side member; and a front-back locking mechanism that has an engaged section and a lock member that engages the engaged section, and that locks and unlocks the movement of the mobile-side member in the front-back direction. Also, the mobile-side member has a front-side cover for supporting a head. Furthermore, the engaged section is attached to the back surface of the front-side cover.

Abstract: Disclosed is a headrest fore-aft position adjuster including a displaceable body which receives load of an occupant's head and which displaces in a fore-aft direction with respect to a headrest pillar and a lock mechanism which locks and unlocks the displaceable body at a plurality of positions along the fore-aft direction, and the lock mechanism includes an engaging part which displaces in the fore-aft direction integrally with the displaceable body, a plurality of engaged part which is provided along a trajectory of the engaging part and which the engaging part is engaged with in a locked state and the engaging part is configured to engage with the engaged parts from a lateral position.

Abstract: A seat heater (10) with a heating element (12) connected between a first (14) and a second (16) nodes comprises a third (18) and a fourth (20) node operatively connectable to a first and a second terminal, respectively, of a power supply. A first electric component (22) providing a controllable first conductance is connected between the first and the third nodes. A second electric component (24) providing a controllable second conductance is connected between the second and the fourth nodes. A control network (26) is connected to the electric components to control the respective conductances and has a mode of operation in which it applies an oscillating signal to the heating element by modulating the first and second conductances in such a way that a voltage drop variation between the third and first nodes is opposite to a voltage drop variation between the second and fourth nodes.

Abstract: A cover for a vehicle may include a lower portion sized and configured to extend over a horizontally-oriented top of a bench of a vehicle seat. The cover may also include an upper portion coupled to the lower portion. The upper portion may be sized and configured to extend upwardly over a backrest of the vehicle seat. The upper portion may include a first section, a second section, and a third section. Each of the first section, the second section, and the third section may extend from an upper edge of the upper portion to the lower portion. The cover may include a first coupling mechanism and a second coupling mechanism. The first coupling mechanism may be configured to couple the first section to the second section. The second coupling mechanism may be configured to couple the second section and the third section.

Abstract: An actuator arrangement for a seat includes a plurality of traction members and an actuator coupled to the plurality of traction members. The actuator has at least one first drive member which is rotatably supported. The actuator may include a second drive member which is supported moveably relative to the at least one first drive member. The traction members are coupled to the at least one first drive member so that rotation of the at least one first drive member gives rise to a cyclical change in the traction applied by the traction members.

Abstract: A bracket for attaching an actuator is easily bonded to a side frame while avoiding interference with a shaft for driving a reclining mechanism. In a seat side frame which is provided at each of both ends of a seat back frame in the width direction, a reclining mechanism, and an actuator, the reclining mechanism is attached to a side wall of the side frame, and the actuator is fixed to an attachment bracket bonded to an inner surface of a portion to which the reclining mechanism is attached in the side wall in the width direction. An upper portion which is disposed above the attachment portion of the reclining mechanism and a lower portion which is disposed below the attachment portion thereof are connected to each other at the rear ends thereof and are separated from each other at the front ends thereof.

Abstract: A harvesting machine crop unloading spout assembly includes an unloading tube elbow terminating at a first end in a first flange that is secured to the outlet of a harvesting machine crop tank. The first flange includes one or more bearings permitting it to swivel about a swivel axis and the unloading tube elbow includes a cranked portion terminating at a second end in an opening. The spout assembly further includes a fixed member adjacent the unloading tube elbow, the unloading tube elbow connected to the fixed member by way of a pivot the axis of which coincides with the swivel axis. The spout assembly includes a rotatable drive gear and a motor drivingly engaged therewith for causing rotation of the unloading tube elbow about the swivel axis, the axis of rotation of the drive gear also coinciding with the swivel axis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a vehicle (1), particularly a motor vehicle, with at least one illuminating device having a longitudinally shaped illuminating fixture for creating a light strip along a defined line of the illuminating fixture, wherein a first section (2, 2?) of the illuminating fixture is arranged on the interior (3) of the vehicle (1) and a second section (4, 4?) of the illuminating fixture is arranged on the exterior (5) of the vehicle, the illuminating device is set up so as to create a similar light strip along a line of the first (2, 2?) and of the second section (4, 4?) of the illuminating fixture, and the light of the light strip created by the first section (2, 2?) of the illuminating fixture is radiated such that it is visible for an occupant located at a definable position on the interior of the vehicle (1), and the light of the light strip created by the second section (4, 4?) of the illuminating fixture is radiated such that it is visible from a definable position relative to and

Abstract: A headlight control device provided in a vehicle to perform headlight control and to control a distribution of light irradiated from a light source is provided. The headlight control device includes: a determination unit that determines a presence and an absence of an obstacle in front of the vehicle and determines a position of the obstacle; a setting unit that sets up an area covering the obstacle as an intensified illumination area when the determination unit determines the presence of the obstacle, wherein the intensified illumination area is an area to which the light from the light source is irradiated in a manner different than a peripheral area of the intensified illumination area; and a controller that controls the distribution of the light irradiated from the light source so that the intensified illumination area set up by the setting unit has an illuminated zone and a non-illuminated zone.

Abstract: An apparatus for driving a light emitting device includes a constant current control circuit configured to control a current flowing through the light emitting device to be constant, and an extension circuit configured to generate a post-extending PWM signal obtained by extending a period of an input PWM signal having a first level. The constant current control circuit is turned on during the period of the post-extending PWM signal having the first level, and the constant current control circuit is turned off during a period of the post-extending PWM signal having a second level.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a cargo box including at least one side wall. A tailgate is coupled to the box and operable between open and closed positions. A light assembly is positioned in a vehicle rear portion of the at least one side wall. A box light is configured to emit light into the box and a puddle lamp is configured to emit light in a vehicle rearward direction.

Abstract: An LED driver chip for a car reading light and a state control method thereof are provided. The LED driver chip includes a state machine control circuit module, a state machine output logic module, a current on/off control logic circuit module, and a current source module. An OUT pin of the LED driver chip is connected with an LED. The LED driver chip determines the next state of LED current according to a driver chip PWM input signal, an EN pin low lever pulse input signal, and a present LED state, enabling the LED to switch among nine different states.

Abstract: A vehicle sound generator system is configured to generate a signal configured to drive one or more speakers produce sound waves simulating sounds associated with a desired engine type. The signal is based on one or more operating conditions of a vehicle. The vehicle sound generator system is configured to select sounds from a plurality of sounds based on the operating conditions of the vehicle. Each sound corresponds to a simulated sound of an engine operating in a respective gear. The vehicle sound generator system may generate the signal to drive the speakers to produce selected sounds to simulate shifting between the respective gears.

Abstract: A vehicle approach alert device includes: an output sound generator that generates a sound output of output sound data read out from a memory device; a voltage control unit that changes a voltage of an output waveform of the sound output, and outputs a voltage control output; an amplifier that flows current, corresponding to the voltage control output, to a sound output body to output a vehicle approach alert sound; an acceleration operation amount obtaining device; a change amount calculation device that calculates a temporal change amount of the acceleration operation amount; an output sound control device that sets an envelope frequency of the vehicle approach alert sound based on the temporal change amount; and a change control device that controls the voltage control unit to change the voltage according to the envelope frequency.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a steering apparatus for a vehicle having a including a light element providing indication and warning light signals to the user of the vehicle. The light element can be associated with a PCB mounted to the steering wheel grip for controlling the operation of the light element. The PCB may be thermally coupled to a heat exchange component such that heat from the light element is transferred from the PCB to the steering wheel grip.

Abstract: The unattended child safety seat alert system is a safety system that is designed to alert travelers when a passenger is left unattended in a safety seat that is adapted for use with an automobile. The unattended child safety seat alert system is a safety system that incorporates a passenger sensor into the safety seat such that the passenger sensor indicates when a passenger is in the safety seat. A control system monitors the passenger sensor and further monitors whether the automobile is in operation. Should the automobile not be operating while a passenger is in safety seat, the unattended child safety seat alert system further monitors the situation and should subsequent conditions be met the unattended child safety seat alert system will issue a plurality of alarms. The unattended child safety seat alert system comprises a passenger sensor, a controller, and a key fob.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a rearview camera system (2) of a motor vehicle (1), in which a sequence of images (15) of an environmental region (9) behind the motor vehicle (1) is provided by means of an image capturing device (3) of the rearview camera system (2) and the sequence of the images (15) is displayed on a display (10), wherein a headlight flasher (14) of a vehicle (13) located in the environmental region (9) is detected by the rearview camera system (2) and due to the detection of the headlight flasher (14), a warning signal (17) separate from the images (15) is generated, by which the detected headlight flasher (14) is signaled to the driver of the motor vehicle (1).