| GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
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| 20120130620 | METHOD FOR ESTIMATING AN INSTANTANEOUS PRESSURE VALUE IN A FUEL LINE OF A FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM - A method is provided for estimating an instantaneous pressure value P | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120130594 | METHOD FOR MANAGING FAULTS IN A MAGNETO-RHEOLOGICAL HYDRAULIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM - A system and method for managing faults occurring in a power steering system in a vehicle is disclosed that has particular application for an MRHPS system to provide reliable functioning of the power steering system. The method includes detecting a fault condition in the MRHPS system and selecting a safe mode from a plurality of predetermined safe modes based on the fault condition. The plurality of predetermined safe modes include a normal operation mode, an engine speed follow mode, a manual mode, a fixed duty cycle mode and a voltage control mode. If a fault condition is detected, the method applies the safe mode to manage the fault condition. | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120129640 | AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION GEAR AND CLUTCH ARRANGEMENT - A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque-transmitting devices. Further, a hydraulic fluid control circuit is provided for controlling the operation of the plurality of torque-transmitting devices. The hydraulic fluid control circuit receives pressurized hydraulic fluid from an off-axis hydraulic fluid pump and has a plurality of fluid passages disposed in the transmission house, input member and other coupling members. | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120128026 | REAL-TIME ESTIMATION OF CELL CORE TEMPERATURE DURING PERIOD OF REST - Methods and systems for estimating the core temperature of at least one cell in a battery at the termination of a rest period. The method for estimating the core temperature of the cells in a battery includes measuring the surface temperature of the cells, obtaining the estimated core temperature of the cells, obtaining the time required for the surface temperature and the estimated core temperature of the cells to converge, and estimating the core temperature of the cells based on the measured surface temperatures, the obtained estimated core temperature, and the obtained time. The system for estimating the core temperature of the cells in a battery includes at least one sensor configured to receive temperature information and a control system in signal communication with the sensor, wherein the control system comprises a memory device and a controller. | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120126989 | METHOD FOR DIAGNOSING A FAULT OF AN SCR SYSTEM - A method is provided for diagnosing a fault in a selective catalytic reduction system having an electric driven transportation device that provide a mass flow of a Diesel Exhaust Fluid into the selective catalytic reduction system. The method includes, but is not limited to applying an electric signal to the transportation device for establishing the mass flow, monitoring a parameter value of the electric signal, monitoring the mass flow provided into the selective catalytic reduction system caused by the transportation device when it is driven with the signal, determining, for the monitored mass flow, the difference between the corresponding parameter value, and a corresponding parameter value stored in a data map. | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120126553 | BUMPER CROSS MEMBER FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE, REINFORCEMENT COMPONENT FOR A BUMPER CROSS MEMBER AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING A BUMPER CROSS MEMBER - A bumper cross member for a motor vehicle includes, but is not limited to a first chamber located in driving direction at the front and a second chamber located in driving direction behind the first chamber. The first and the second chamber are embodied as hollow sheet metal profiles and the first chamber has a higher deformability than the second chamber. | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120126551 | CLOSURE LATCH AND RELEASE MECHANISM - A latch assembly includes a forkbolt movable between a released position, allowing opening of a closure, and a restrained position, preventing opening of the closure. A forkbolt spring is configured to bias the forkbolt toward the released position. A primary detent is mounted with respect to the forkbolt and movable between an open position, allowing the forkbolt to move into the released position, and a closed position, not allowing the forkbolt to move into the released position. A secondary detent is movable between an unlocked position, allowing the primary detent to move into the open position, and a locked position, preventing the primary detent from moving into the open position. An actuator selectively moves the secondary detent from the locked position to the unlocked position. | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120125283 | INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE - An internal combustion engine includes, but is not limited to an engine block, a crankshaft associated to the engine block, a cylinder head fixed on top of the engine block so as to define an assembly axis of the internal combustion engine, a camshaft, and a housing for a timing device connecting the crankshaft to the camshaft, the housing having a frontal opening which is laterally delimited by two opposite sidewalls belonging to the engine block and two opposite sidewalls belonging to the cylinder head, the frontal opening being closed with a first cover fixed to the sidewalls of the engine block, and with a second cover fixed to the sidewalls of the cylinder head. | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120122011 | Nano-Fibers for Electrical Power Generation - A fibrous sheet for fuel cell or battery applications is formed by electrospinning a fluorinated ion-conducting polymer solution to form an agglomeration of fibers. | 05-17-2012 |
| 20120119545 | FLOOR STRUCTURE OF AN AUTOMOBILE BODY - A floor structure is provided for an automobile body that includes, but is not limited to a floor panel and a seat support structure disposed underneath the floor panel. The floor panel includes, but is not limited to at least two floor sections that adjoin one another in the vehicle longitudinal direction and are configured to be substantially flat, which are disposed offset with respect to one another in relation to the vehicle vertical direction. The seat support structure has at least one transverse structure stabilizing the floor section at least in the area of the higher floor section. | 05-17-2012 |
| 20120119544 | CAR BODY WITH REINFORCING STRUCTURE - A car body is provided with a longitudinal beam structure that extends in essentially the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, a front longitudinal beam, a rear longitudinal beam, and an intermediate piece that structurally connects the rear longitudinal beam to the front longitudinal beam. The longitudinal beam structure is connected to a reinforcing structure that bridges the intermediate piece and, referred to in the lateral direction of the vehicle, is arranged laterally offset to the longitudinal beam structure at least in certain areas. | 05-17-2012 |
| 20120119542 | CAR BODY WITH REINFORCING STRUCTURE - A car body is provided with a longitudinal beam that extends in essentially the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and with a first reinforcing element that borders thereon in the longitudinal direction and an end section of which that faces away from the longitudinal beam that is supported on a floor structure of the car body by a second reinforcing element. | 05-17-2012 |
| 20120118264 | INTAKE ARRANGEMENT FOR COMBUSTION CHAMBER - In an intake arrangement for a combustion chamber in which a first intake duct produces a substantially rotational flow in the chamber, the flow from a second intake duct is divided into two components. The first component is an axial flow into the chamber and the second component is a rotational flow having the same sense of rotation as the first duct. The first and second components arise from the shaping of a junction region between branches of the second intake duct adjacent the chamber. | 05-17-2012 |
| 20120118253 | COMBUSTION ENGINE WITH OVERHEAD CAMSHAFTS - A combustion engine is provided with overhead camshafts. The camshafts are mounted in bearings. The cylinder head with camshafts is fixed on a cylinder block via cylinder head screws. Bearing caps are fixed on the cylinder head via bearing cap screws. Each bearing cap comprises three openings for bearing cap screws and additionally a fourth opening for a cylinder head screw. | 05-17-2012 |
| 20120118247 | COOLING SYSTEM FOR A COMBUSTION ENGINE, COMBUSTION ENGINE AND MOTOR VEHICLE WITH A COMBUSTION ENGINE - A cooling system is provided for a combustion engine having at least one pressure sensor and a diaphragm. The diaphragm is impermeable to a coolant of the cooling system and in contact with the coolant on a first side. A sensor device of the at least one pressure sensor is arranged separated from the coolant on a second side of the diaphragm located opposite the first side and configured to determine a pressure of the coolant. | 05-17-2012 |
| 20120118102 | DUAL DRIVE PUMP SYSTEM WITH ONE WAY CLUTCHES - A dual drive pump system for rear wheel or front wheel drive automatic transmission in a motor vehicle includes a dual drive pump disposed off-axis of the transmission input shaft axis and driven by a gear train driven by a hub. The dual drive pump is also driven by a gear train driven by an auxiliary motor. Torque multiplication through the gear train allows the dual drive pump to have a smaller displacement while still providing the hydraulic pressure needs of the transmission. Each gear train is connected to the dual drive pump via back-to-back one way clutches (OWC). The dual drive pump may be driven by either an engine or the auxiliary motor depending on the operating conditions of the motor vehicle. | 05-17-2012 |
| 20120117942 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A NITROGEN OXIDE SENSOR - A vehicle includes an engine having an exhaust port, an exhaust system for conditioning an engine exhaust stream, a nitrogen oxide (NOx) sensor positioned within the exhaust stream, and a controller. The controller has an out-of-range diagnostic tool for evaluating a range performance of the sensor. The controller detects a predetermined engine-on fuel shutoff event, and then temporarily disables the diagnostic tool during the fuel shutoff event. The fuel shutoff event may be a vehicle deceleration-based event. A selective catalytic reduction (SCR) device may be positioned within the exhaust system, with at least one NOx sensor positioned at the outlet of the SCR device. An additional NOx sensor may be positioned in proximity to the exhaust port. A method for use aboard the above vehicle includes detecting the engine-on fuel shutoff event via the controller, and temporarily disabling the diagnostic tool for the duration of the detected fuel shutoff event. | 05-17-2012 |
| 20120116647 | ENGINE CONTROL APPARATUS AND A METHOD FOR TRANSITIONING BETWEEN AN ALL CYLINDER OPERATION MODE AND A DEACTIVATED CYLINDER OPERATION MODE OF A MULTIPLE CYLINDER INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE - Engine control apparatus includes, but is not limited to a determining device for determining whether or not the engine is operated under predetermined deceleration operating conditions or predetermined acceleration operating conditions and for individually deactivating two or more cylinders in a disenabling sequence which is different from the firing sequence if the engine is operated under predetermined deceleration operating conditions, and/or for individually reactivating two or more of the cylinders in a reactivating sequence which is different from the firing sequence if the engine is operated under predetermined acceleration conditions. | 05-10-2012 |
| 20120115446 | Remote Application of Vehicle Component Settings - Remote application of vehicle control settings includes detecting a vehicle in proximity of the mobile communication device, authenticating the vehicle via a secured pairing between an identifier of the vehicle and an identifier of the mobile communication device, retrieving driver preference settings assigned to the identifier of the vehicle and the identifier of the mobile communication device, and transmitting the driver preference settings to the vehicle. | 05-10-2012 |
| 20120115066 | METHOD FOR STABILIZING POLYELECTROLYTE MEMBRANE FILMS USED IN FUEL CELLS - A novel method of altering extruded membrane films for PEM (polymer electrolyte membrane) fuel cells in such a manner that the membrane films swell substantially uniformly in both the in-plane x and y directions when immersed in water or ionomer solution is disclosed. The invention includes cutting a membrane film from an extruded membrane sheet in a diagonal orientation with respect to the membrane process direction of the membrane sheet. The membrane film exhibits reduced internal stress as compared to conventionally-prepared membrane films and allows a more even distribution of pressure in a fuel cell stack, thereby reducing the incidence of swollen membrane-induced failure mechanisms in the fuel cell stack. | 05-10-2012 |
| 20120115010 | USING ELASTIC AVERAGING FOR ALIGNMENT OF BATTERY STACK, FUEL CELL STACK, OR OTHER VEHICLE ASSEMBLY - An assembly for a vehicle includes a first member including a plurality of elastically deformable locating protrusions extending outward, and a second member defining a cavity extending inward and including a plurality of elastically deformable compression features disposed within the cavity. The locating protrusions of the first member are disposed within the cavity of the second member in press fit engagement with the compression features of the second member to secure the first member relative to the second member. The average of the elastic deformation between all of the locating protrusions of the first member and all of the compression features of the second member precisely aligns the first member relative to the second member. The assembly may include but is not limited to a multiple unit battery pack, a multiple unit fuel cell pack, a dashboard assembly or adjoining body panels. | 05-10-2012 |
| 20120114778 | SURFACE TEXTURING USING FOLDABLE STRUCTURES AND ACTIVE MATERIAL ACTUATION - Active texturing systems adapted for selectively and reversibly modifying the texture of a surface utilizing a variably foldable structure in communication with the surface, and active material actuation to enable and/or cause folding. | 05-10-2012 |
| 20120113667 | THIRD BRAKE LIGHT FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A THIRD BRAKE LIGHT FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE - A third brake light for a motor vehicle includes, but is not limited to a light source, a light-guiding element with a decoupling structure defining a decoupling side of the light-guiding element, and an LCD-shutter. The LCD-shutter is arranged on a side of the light-guiding element facing away from the decoupling side. | 05-10-2012 |
| 20120112674 | CONTROL OF A TRACTION POWER INVERTER MODULE IN A VEHICLE HAVING AN ELECTRIC TRACTION MOTOR - A method for controlling a traction power inverter module (TPIM) in a vehicle includes determining a commanded output torque of the motor using a controller. The method further includes controlling the TPIM and motor using a discontinuous pulse width modulated (DPWM) signal when the commanded output torque is less than a calibrated torque threshold. A continuous pulse width modulated (CPWM) signal is used when the commanded output torque is greater than the threshold. The method may include determining a direction of a change in the commanded output torque, and controlling the TPIM, via the controller, using the DPWM signal only when the commanded output torque drops below a predetermined hysteresis level. A vehicle includes a traction motor producing a motor torque for propelling the vehicle, an ESS, a TPIM, and a controller configured as noted above. | 05-10-2012 |
| 20120112469 | TURBOCOMPOUND FREE PISTON LINEAR ALTERNATOR - A free piston linear alternator including a pair of pistons, each piston axially opposed from the other and generating electric current when linearly translating within the cylinder, a combustion chamber disposed between the pistons, a return mechanism configured to return the pistons to respective first positions from respective second positions after combustion; and an exhaust system fluidly coupled to the combustion chamber and including a power turbine transforming exhaust gas feedstream pressure into a mechanical output. | 05-10-2012 |
| 20120112468 | OPPOSED FREE PISTON LINEAR ALTERNATOR - A free piston linear alternator includes a cylinder having a pair of bounce chambers, a pair of scavenging chambers, a pair of opposed pistons and a combustion chamber disposed between the opposed pistons. The pistons are axially opposed from each other and generate electric current when each of the pistons linearly translate. Each of the bounce chambers is disposed between respective ones of the pistons and a respective outer end of the cylinder and includes substantially constrained air configured to return respective ones of the pistons to a respective first position from a respective second position after combustion. | 05-10-2012 |
| 20120112467 | FREE PISTON LINEAR ALTERNATOR UTILIZING OPPOSED PISTONS WITH SPRING RETURN - A free piston linear alternator includes a cylinder having a pair of outer chambers, a pair of opposed pistons and a combustion chamber disposed between the opposed pistons. Each outer chamber is disposed between respective ones of the pistons and a respective outer end of the cylinder. The pistons are axially opposed from each other and independently generate electric current when each of the pistons linearly translate. Each of a pair of return members is disposed within a respective one of the outer chambers, and each of the return members is configured to return respective ones of the pistons to a respective first position from a respective second position after combustion. | 05-10-2012 |
| 20120111451 | FUEL FILLER DOOR MODULE - A tank flap module is provided for installation in a motor vehicle having a basin, which in the region of an elastically deformable floor section has a passage opening for receiving a fuel filler neck. The floor section adjoining the passage opening on a side facing the fuel filler neck has a surface structure provided for reducing the adhesive and/or sliding friction properties. | 05-10-2012 |
| 20120110918 | FASTENING ARRANGEMENT FOR MOUNTING A DECORATIVE PANEL - A fastening arrangement is provided for mounting a decorative panel on a vehicle door that includes, but is not limited to a frame profile forming an opening for a side window of the vehicle door, on which the decorative panel for covering the profile is mounted with a fastener. The fastener includes, but is not limited to an elongate fastening piece passing through an opening in the frame profile and a fastening counterpiece connected to the fastening piece. The fastening counterpiece is connected to the decorative panel. The elongate fastening piece extends perpendicular to a door plane and can be connected to the fastening counterpiece from a door inner side. | 05-10-2012 |
| 20120109556 | BAND SELECT STATE OF CHARGE WEIGHTED SCALING METHOD - A method and system for selectively using a voltage-based state of charge estimate in an overall state of charge calculation. Regions or bands of battery pack state of charge are established, where in some regions, open circuit voltage is known to be a good indicator of state of charge, and in other regions, open circuit voltage is known to be a poor indicator of state of charge due to a high sensitivity to measurement error. In regions or bands where voltage-based state of charge is expected to be accurate, the voltage-based state of charge estimate may be used to scale or adjust a current-based state of charge estimate, thus avoiding a continuous accumulation of error in the current-based estimate. In regions or bands where voltage-based state of charge is known to be prone to error, only current-based state of charge information is used. | 05-03-2012 |
| 20120109547 | COMPREHENSIVE METHOD OF ELECTRICAL FLUID HEATING SYSTEM FAULT DETECTION AND HANDLING - A method and system are provided to eliminate the risk of over temperature concerns associated with electrical heating devices, which if undetected may result in an electrical over temperature condition. The electrical heating system may be applied to the detection and control structure of other automotive electrical loads where thermal concerns may exist. The electrical heating system combines several layers of fault detection strategies, to form a unique comprehensive approach to prevent and detect potential electrical fault conditions, which if undetected and/or controlled may result in an electrical over temperature condition. | 05-03-2012 |
| 20120109489 | ENGINE SOUND ENHANCEMENT IMPLEMENTATION THROUGH VARYING VEHICLE CONDITIONS - Engine sound enhancement (ESE) for a vehicle includes determining a current rate of change (ROC) in a position of an acceleration device of the vehicle from sensor data received from at least one sensor in communication with the acceleration device and calculating an ESE value based on the current ROC in the position of the acceleration device. The ESE value reflects an intensity and tone quality of at least one of the exhaust and the engine of the vehicle. The ESE also includes receiving a current RPM value, comparing the RPM value and the ROC in the position of the acceleration device to corresponding pre-defined threshold values, the pre-defined threshold values mapped to ESE tunings, and activating one of the ESE tunings when each of the current RPM value and the current ROC in the position of the acceleration device meets a corresponding pre-defined threshold value. | 05-03-2012 |
| 20120109449 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY MONITORING TIRE PRESSURE IN A VEHICLE AND METHOD FOR DISPLAYING INFORMATION ABOUT VEHICLE TIRE INFLATION - A device and method are provided for automatically monitoring tire pressure in a vehicle, as well as a method for displaying information about vehicle tire inflation. The method for automatically monitoring tire pressure in a vehicle encompasses indirectly determining the actual temperature in a vehicle tire. The actual temperature is ascertained based on empirically determined families of characteristics as a function of parameters that describe environmental conditions, driving conditions and/or material properties of the vehicle tires. | 05-03-2012 |
| 20120109433 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETERMINING THE TARGET THERMAL CONDITIONING VALUE TO CONTROL A RECHARGEABLE ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM - Systems and methods for determining the target thermal conditioning value to control a rechargeable energy storage system. Target thermal conditioning values are determined using a required thermal power value and a heat generation value in order to appropriately condition the RESS for heating and cooling. | 05-03-2012 |
| 20120109413 | ELECTRIC DRIVING RANGE CALCULATOR - A method of and device for determining driving range for a vehicle operating with a rechargeable energy storage supply. The method includes performing a calculation based on a limited number of input parameters, including a driving distance, average speed, location and time of day. Other determinations, such as the possibility of using a battery power-depleting climate control system, as well as battery capacity and climate data for various seasonal and location factors may also be used in the calculations. | 05-03-2012 |
| 20120107649 | BATTERY THERMAL SYSTEM WITH INTERLOCKING STRUCURE COMPONENTS - A battery module is described. The battery module includes a plurality of battery cells; a plurality of cooling fin assemblies, each cooling fin assembly positioned between two battery cells, the cooling fin assemblies comprising at least one cooling fin and a foot on at least one side of the cooling fin assemblies, the foot having a bottom and interlocking profiles on each end, the interlocking profiles on adjacent feet of the cooling fin assemblies interlocking the feet and forming a surface; and a heat sink contacting the surface of the interlocked feet. A method of cooling a battery module is also described. | 05-03-2012 |
| 20120105065 | DIAGNOSIS OF HEV/EV BATTERY DISCONNECT SYSTEM - A circuit that detects if contacts in an HV contactor have been welded or stuck closed. The circuit includes a controller that generates a short duration pulse signal that closes a driver switch and allows current flow through a coil in the HV contactor. The current flow is converted to a voltage by a sensor, where the voltage is received by the controller. The controller uses the voltage, such as by comparing the voltage to a stored representative voltage of the coil current for when the HV contactor is open, to determine whether the HV contactor is closed, and possibly welded or stuck closed, or partially closed. The sensor can be the driver switch or another device, such as a resistor. | 05-03-2012 |
| 20120104776 | MOTOR VEHICLE FRONT END - A motor vehicle front structure is provided that has at least one first longitudinal girder and at least one first crash box. The first crash box has a deformation section and a fastening section, the fastening section connected to the first longitudinal girder. Moreover, the motor vehicle front structure has an engine mount, the engine mount having a first fastening section, which is connected to the first longitudinal girder. The fastening section of the first crash box and the first fastening section of the engine mount have a common overlap area. | 05-03-2012 |
| 20120103437 | VALVE CONFIGURATION FOR A LUBRICATION CIRCUIT OF A LATCHED PUMP APPLIED CLUTCH TRANSMISSION - A hydraulic control circuit for a transmission is provided including a source of pressurized fluid and at least one selectively engageable torque transmitting mechanism. At least one latching valve is provided in communication with the source and is operable to selectively communicate the pressurized fluid to effect engagement of the at least one torque transmitting mechanism. The at least one latching valve is operable to maintain engagement the at least one torque transmitting mechanism irrespective of the presence of the pressurized fluid. A valve is in fluid communication with the source. A lubrication circuit is provided and is operable to lubricate the transmission. The valve is operable to variably communicate the pressurized fluid to the lubrication circuit. A transmission incorporating the hydraulic control circuit is also disclosed. | 05-03-2012 |
| 20120103132 | TRANSMISSION CASE FOR HYBRID VEHICLES - A transmission assembly is provided. The transmission assembly includes a transmission case with at least one wall having an interior side and an exterior side; a transmission component arranged within the transmission case; an interface formed in the wall of the transmission case; and a connector secured to the wall at the interface with a snap-in connection that substantially prevents axial, radial, and rotational movement between the connector and interface. | 05-03-2012 |
| 20120101712 | METHOD FOR ASSESSING DRIVER ATTENTIVENESS - The attentiveness of the driver of motor vehicle traveling in a lane provided with boundaries on both sides is assessed by measuring the distance of the vehicle from one of the boundaries, determining the objective lateral freedom of movement of the vehicle in the lane, specifying a desired range of the distance of the vehicle from one boundary by means of the objective lateral freedom of movement, and adapting a parameter representative of the assessed attentiveness of the driver when the distance of the vehicle from one boundary leaves the desired range. | 04-26-2012 |
| 20120101704 | METHOD FOR OPERATING AT LEAST ONE SENSOR OF A VEHICLE AND VEHICLE HAVING AT LEAST ONE SENSOR - A method is provided for operating at least one sensor of a vehicle. The at least one sensor is configured for detecting objects lying within a predetermined detection range and the method includes, but is not limited to: position data emitted by at least one object is received by means of a receiving apparatus of the vehicle. In addition, a position of the at least one object is determined by means of the position data received from the at least one object and a comparison is made as to whether the determined position lies within the predetermined detection range of the at least one sensor. If the determined position lies within the predetermined detection range of the at least one sensor, it is further determined whether the at least one object is detected by the at least one sensor. If the at least one object is not detected by the at least one sensor, an instantaneous detection range of the at least one sensor is further determined by means of the determined position of the at least one object. | 04-26-2012 |
| 20120101689 | METHOD FOR OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE AND MOTOR VEHICLE - A method is provided for operating a motor vehicle. The method includes, but is not limited to determining whether at least one control is activated by a driver of the motor vehicle while driving the motor vehicle. The at least one control is here part of an onboard system, selected from the group comprised of an information and entertainment system, an air conditioner, a mirror adjuster, a seat adjuster, a navigation system, a first driver assistance system and/or a telephone system. In addition, at least one parameter of a second driver assistance system of the motor vehicle is adjusted if the at least one control is activated by the driver of the motor vehicle while driving the motor vehicle. | 04-26-2012 |
| 20120101681 | METHOD FOR OPERATING AT LEAST ONE SENSOR OF A VEHICLE AND VEHICLE HAVING AT LEAST ONE SENSOR - A method is provided for operating a sensor of a vehicle. The sensor is configured to detect objects within a detection range and the method includes, but is not limited to detecting an object with the sensor. In addition, a position of the object is determined with data from the sensor. Furthermore, position data emitted by the object is received with a receiving apparatus of the vehicle and the position of the object is determined with the position data. Moreover, the position determined with the sensor is compared with the position of the object and comparative data is determined and an automatic adjustment of the sensor and/or output of a message inside the vehicle is made depending on the comparative data. | 04-26-2012 |
| 20120100953 | TWO-SPEED TRANSMISSION MODULE WITH PASSIVE AUTOMATIC SHIFTING - A multi-speed transmission module is provided that can passively and automatically upshift and downshift between two speed ratios, even if the speed of the output member does not decrease. The transmission module includes a planetary gear set. A torque-transmitting mechanism is engageable to connect the two members of the planetary gear set for common rotation. A centripetal member is configured to apply a first axial force urging engagement of the torque-transmitting mechanism. The first axial force increases as the speed of the output member increases. A torque-to-thrust actuator, such as a ball screw actuator, is connected for rotation with the input member and is configured to apply a second axial force opposing engagement of the torque-transmitting mechanism. | 04-26-2012 |
| 20120100301 | Nucleation of Ultrathin, Continuous, Conformal Metal Films Using Atomic Layer Deposition And Application As Fuel Cell Catalysts - A method to achieve a conformal ultrathin film of platinum or one of its alloys on a substrate that can be economically used as a heterogeneous catalyst, such as automotive polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell catalyst. The method includes using a hydrogen plasma in platinum atomic layer deposition along with tungsten as a substrate or anchoring adhesive layer to assist platinum nucleation and deposition. | 04-26-2012 |
| 20120098678 | METHOD FOR ASSESSING DRIVER ATTENTIVENESS - A method is provided for assessing the attentiveness of the driver of motor vehicle traveling in a lane including, but not limited to detecting the position of the motor vehicle on the lane transverse to the direction of travel, determining the extent of fluctuations of the position, and assessing the attentiveness as insufficient if within an observation period at least one first significant period is detected in which the extent of fluctuations of the position falls below a first low limiting value and a second significant period is detected in which the extent of the fluctuations exceeds a second high limiting value. | 04-26-2012 |
| 20120098244 | METHODS OF PREVENTING OR REDUCING THE AFFECTS OF ROOF IMPACT IN AUTOMOTIVE APPLICATIONS - A method of autonomously preventing or reducing the affects of roof impact in automotive applications, including the steps of determining a vehicle condition indicative of an imminent roof impact, and modifying a vehicular seat or roof structure, or deploying a netting as a result thereof, wherein active material actuation is preferably utilized to effect the same. | 04-26-2012 |
| 20120097354 | SAND CASTING A DIESEL PISTON WITH AN AS-CAST, REENTRANT COMBUSTION BOWL - A diesel engine piston and a method of making the piston. The method involves casting the piston with complex geometries, including undercut features. The casting uses an aggregate disposable mold that can be removed from the as-cast part. In one form, the complex geometry includes an undercut combustion bowl formed in the piston dome, while in another, it may include an internal cooling passage. The undercut bowl and internal passages may be produced using the aggregate disposable mold. | 04-26-2012 |
| 20120096980 | STEERING WHEEL FOR A VEHICLE AND VEHICLE - A steering wheel is provided for a vehicle with a middle section. The middle section exhibits a front side facing the driver and a rear side facing away from the driver. An input device with at least one scroll wheel is arranged in the region of the middle section. At least one first region of the scroll wheel on the front side of the middle section and a second region of the scroll wheel on the rear side of the middle section are exposed for activation purposes. | 04-26-2012 |
| 20120096979 | VEHICLE STEERING DEVICE HAVING VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL - A vehicle steering device is provided that has a rotatable vehicle steering wheel and at least one fixed display console in the field of vision of the driver. Control and display means are situated on the display console. A co-rotating right and the co-rotating left actuating console for selecting and operating the control and display means from the vehicle steering wheel are situated on the vehicle steering wheel. | 04-26-2012 |
| 20120095668 | METHOD FOR FEED-FORWARD CONTROLLING FUEL INJECTION INTO A CYLINDER OF AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE - A method is provided for feed-forward controlling fuel injection into a cylinder of an internal combustion engine that includes, but is not limited to setting a desired value of a combustion parameter indicative of a fuel combustion within the cylinder, determining a value of one or more engine operating parameters, using the desired value of the combustion parameter and the determined values of the engine operating parameters for determining a value of a parameter of a fuel injection into the cylinder, and commanding a fuel injector associated to the cylinder to perform a fuel injection having the determined value of the fuel injection parameter. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120095657 | ROCKING ENABLED SHIFT-BY-WIRE SYSTEM - A shift-by-wire system includes an incremental shift interface that generates an incremental shift signal. A rock control module enables a rocking mode and generates a rock control signal based on status of a vehicle parameter. The rocking mode includes shifting between a first mode and a second mode and back to the first mode. The first mode is one of a reverse mode and a drive mode and the second mode is the other one of the reverse mode and the drive mode. A shift interface module generates a shift control signal to shift a transmission of a vehicle between the first mode and the second mode based on the incremental shift signal and the rock control signal. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120095656 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING VEHICLE SHIFTER POSITION - A system for controlling a transmission of a vehicle based on input from a shifter includes first, second, third, and fourth position sensors and a position determination module. The shifter includes a shift lever. The first and second position sensors sense first and second positions of the shift lever, respectively, with respect to first and second axes, respectively, wherein the first and second axes are orthogonal to one another. The third and fourth position sensors sense third and fourth positions of the shift lever, respectively, with respect to third and fourth axes, respectively, wherein the third and fourth axes are orthogonal to one another. In addition, the first and second axes are non-orthogonal to the third and fourth axes. The position determination module determines a position of the shift lever based on the first, second, third, and fourth positions. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120091777 | MOTOR VEHICLE - With a motor vehicle having a front axle and a rear axle, an underbody and shock absorbers, each of which extend between an upper point of action on the underbody and a lower point of action on the rear axle extending adjacent to a rear wheel, and at least one back seat the upper point of action of one of the shock absorbers is located vertically below the back seat. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120091762 | SILL ARRANGEMENT OF A MOTOR VEHICLE BODY - A sill arrangement of a motor vehicle body is provided that has a sill outer plate, a sill inner plate, and a side wall outer plate, the sill inner plate and the sill outer plate being connected to one another with at least one flange extending essentially in the sill longitudinal direction, and the side wall outer plate fastened at least regionally on a lower side of the sill outer plate at a distance from the connecting flange. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120091761 | SILLBOARD ARRANGEMENT OF A MOTOR VEHICLE BODY - A sillboard arrangement of a motor vehicle body is provided with a sillboard outside panel, a sillboard inside panel and a lateral wall outside panel. The sillboard inside panel and sillboard outside panel are joined together by at least one connecting flange hat extends in the longitudinal direction of the sillboard, and the lateral wall outside panel is attached to a bottom side of the sillboard outside panel in an area spaced apart from the connecting flange. The lateral wall outside panel can have secured to it an end cap, which at an end lying in the longitudinal direction of the sillboard profile exhibits a floor section that is essentially indentation free in relation to the transverse direction of the vehicle and spaced apart in the vertical direction of the vehicle from a bottom side of the lateral wall outside panel. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120091759 | REAR FLOOR STRUCTURE FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE - A rear floor structure for a motor vehicle includes, but is not limited to two longitudinal girders extending between rear wheel houses. A downwardly open pocket for receiving a shock absorber is formed in each of the longitudinal girders. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120091755 | CAP FOR VEHICLE BODY HOLLOW SPACES WITH INTEGRATED FUNCTION PART - A vehicle body and a cap are provided for closing off a hollow space formed by one or more structural components of a motor vehicle body with a carrier plate configured to the geometry of the hollow space, whose outer edge is provided with a thermally activatable sealant and/or adhesive and at least one function part is embedded in the carrier plate. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120091680 | FRONT AXLE SUPPORT WITH ARRANGEMENT OF A STEERING GEAR AND A FRONT AXLE STABILIZER - A front axle support is provided with arrangement of a steering gear and a front axle stabilizer. The front axle support has receptacles for fastening the steering gear and for fastening the front axle stabilizer with screw connections. The steering gear and the front axle stabilizer are fixed on a common fitting. The common fitting is disposed with a common screw connection on the front axle support. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120091639 | Fully Decoupled Hydraulic Torque Strut - A hydraulic device disposed in a torque strut so as to provide a fully decoupled hydraulic torque strut. A main rubber element vibrates in response to powertrain pitch torque. At high vibration amplitude, high hydraulic damping is provided via a pumping chamber, an inertia track and a bellowed compensation chamber, wherein a decoupler system hydraulically connected to the pumping chamber is passively disabled. At low vibration amplitude, minimal hydraulic damping is provided via the decoupler system which is connected by a decoupler track to the compensation chamber. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120091292 | SHIFT CABLE HOLDER AND METHOD FOR MOUNTING SHIFT AND SELECTOR CABLES ON THE HOLDER - A shift cable holder is provided for a transmission. In addition, a method is provided for mounting shift and selector cables on the holder. The shift cable holder has a base region. At a distance from the base region at least one retaining profile is provided for receiving at least one coupling element of a shift cable end. The shift cable holder has a guide lug, which projects beyond the retaining profile and is fixed to the retaining profile and has a guide edge. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120090952 | POWERTRAIN PRESSURE CONTROL SYSTEM - A pressure control system configured to control a selectable one-way clutch (SOWC) includes a pilot valve and a SOWC actuator. The pilot valve is configured to produce a pilot signal and includes a first valve, which is a MEMS microvalve. The pressure control system may further include a regulating valve in fluid communication with the pilot valve and configured to receive the pilot signal. The regulating valve is further configured to output a control signal. The SOWC actuator is configured to select between operating modes of the selectable one-way clutch in response to one of the pilot signal and the control signal. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120090948 | POWERTRAIN PRESSURE CONTROL SYSTEM - A clutch includes a pilot valve, a regulating valve, and a clutch control valve. The pilot valve is configured to produce a pilot signal and includes a first valve, which is a MEMS microvalve. The regulating valve is in fluid communication with the pilot valve, and is configured to receive the pilot signal. The regulating valve is further configured to output a control signal. The clutch control valve is configured to engage and disengage the clutch in response to the control signal. The clutch may be configured as one of a wet clutch and a dry clutch. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120090947 | POWERTRAIN PRESSURE AND FLOW CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH - A pressure and flow control system for a torque converter clutch includes a pilot valve, a regulating valve, and a torque converter control valve. The pilot valve is configured to produce a pilot signal and includes a first valve, which is a MEMS microvalve. The regulating valve is in fluid communication with the pilot valve, and is configured to receive the pilot signal. The regulating valve is further configured to output a control signal. The torque converter control valve is configured to engage and disengage the torque converter clutch in response to the control signal. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120090946 | POWERTRAIN PRESSURE CONTROL SYSTEM - A pressure control system includes a hydraulically-controlled component, a pilot valve, and a regulating valve. The pilot valve is configured to produce a pilot signal and includes a first valve, which is a MEMS microvalve. The regulating valve is in fluid communication with the pilot valve, and is configured to receive the pilot signal. The regulating valve is further configured to output a control signal, which controls the hydraulically-controlled component. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120090945 | POWERTRAIN PRESSURE AND FLOW CONTROL SYSTEM FOR DOG CLUTCHES - A pressure and flow control system for a dog clutch includes a pilot valve, a regulating valve, and a selector. The pilot valve is configured to produce a pilot signal and includes a first valve, which is a MEMS microvalve. The regulating valve is in fluid communication with the pilot valve, and is configured to receive the pilot signal. The regulating valve is further configured to output a control signal. The selector is configured to engage and disengage the dog clutch in response to the control signal. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120090944 | MICRO ELECTRO-MECHANICAL SYSTEM (MEMS) BASED HYDRAULIC CONTROL SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATED MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS - An automated manual transmission includes a hydraulic device, a pilot valve, and a regulating valve. The pilot valve is operably connected to the hydraulic device and configured to actuate. The pilot valve includes at least one micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) based device. The regulating valve is operably connected to the pilot valve and the hydraulic device. The regulating valve is configured to direct fluid to the hydraulic device based on the actuation of the pilot valve. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120090941 | CLUTCH SLEEVE FOR A SHIFT CLUTCH AND SHIFT CLUTCH - A clutch sleeve is provided for a shift clutch having a synchronizing device, which includes, but is not limited to a clutch body, which is connected in a rotationally-fixed manner to a gear wheel mounted so it is rotatable on a shaft and has coupling teeth and a friction cone as well as a synchronizing ring having a counter cone and blocking teeth, and which has shift teeth, the clutch sleeve having shift teeth, which are designed in such a manner that a first group of the shift teeth cooperates with the blocking teeth until a synchronized speed is reached and a second group of the shift teeth engages in the coupling teeth after the synchronized speed is reached. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120090940 | MICRO-ELECTRO-MECHANICAL-SYSTEMS BASED HYDRAULIC CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A DRY DUAL CLUTCH TRANSMISSION - A dry dual clutch transmission includes at least one hydraulic component and a pilot valve operably connected to the hydraulic component to actuate the hydraulic component. The pilot valve includes a Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) based pressure differential actuator valve. The hydraulic component may include but is not limited to a first clutch and a second clutch of the dry dual clutch transmission, an on/off solenoid, a line pressure control valve or a synchronizing shift fork. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120090937 | MICRO-ELECTRO-MECHANICAL-SYSTEMS BASED HYDRAULIC CONTROL FOR A POWERTRAIN - A continuously variable transmission (CVT) for a vehicle includes a hydraulically-controlled component and a pilot valve. The pilot valve includes at least one micro-electrical-mechanical-systems (MEMS) based device. The pilot valve is operably connected to and is configured for actuating the hydraulically-controlled component. The pilot valve additionally includes a regulating valve operably connected to the pilot valve and to the hydraulically-controlled component. The regulating valve is configured to direct fluid to the hydraulically-controlled component when actuated by the pilot valve. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120090935 | MICRO-ELECTRO-MECHANICAL-SYSTEMS BASED HYDRAULIC CONTROL FOR A POWERTRAIN - An automatic transmission for a vehicle includes a hydraulically-controlled component and a pilot valve. The pilot valve includes at least one micro-electrical-mechanical-systems (MEMS) based device. The pilot valve is operably connected to and is configured for actuating the hydraulically-controlled component. The pilot valve additionally includes a regulating valve operably connected to the pilot valve and to the hydraulically-controlled component. The regulating valve is configured to direct fluid to the hydraulically-controlled component when actuated by the pilot valve. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120090806 | AIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEM FOR AN AUTOMOBILE AND METHOD FOR OPERATING AN AIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEM OF AN AUTOMOBILE - An air-conditioning system is provided for an automobile comprising an interior air-conditioning module, which can be connected in a heat-transporting manner to at least two coolant-carrying cooling circuits of the automobile via valves (e.g., controllable or adjustable valves). A controller is also provided that is configured to control the valves in such a manner that those cooling circuits having the higher coolant temperature can be connected in a heat-transporting manner to the interior air-conditioning module. A method is also provided for operating an air-conditioning system. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120090703 | POWERTRAIN PRESSURE AND FLOW CONTROL SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS - A pressure and flow control system includes a hydraulically-controlled component, a pilot valve, and a regulating valve. The pilot valve is configured to produce a pilot signal and includes a first valve, which is a MEMS microvalve. The regulating valve is in fluid communication with the pilot valve, and is configured to receive the pilot signal. The regulating valve is further configured to output a control signal, which controls the hydraulically-controlled component. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120090583 | EGR VALVE ASSEMBLY FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES - An EGR valve assembly is provided for an Internal Combustion Engine. The valve assembly includes, but is not limited to a duct having an inlet and an outlet. A portion of the duct is configured with an open section that defines a seat for a valve housing, the valve housing having a passage that leads into the duct and a valve flap for opening and closing the passage, and an engaging portion configured to seal the open section of the duct. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120090460 | ACTUATOR FOR RAISING THE FRONT HOOD OF A VEHICLE AND PEDESTRIAN PROTECTION SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE - An actuator is provided for raising the front hood of a vehicle having at least one extension part, by whose extension movement the front hood of the vehicle can be raised or is raised. It is provided that the extension part is at least partially formed by a planar formation, which is deformable from a first shape (e.g., a starting shape) into a second shape (e.g., an intermediate shape or final shape) to raise the front hood. Furthermore, a motor vehicle is provided that has an actuator for raising the vehicle front hood and a pedestrian protection system for a vehicle. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120090427 | MICRO-ELECTRO-MECHANICAL-SYSTEM (MEMS) BASED HYDRAULIC CONTROL SYSTEM FOR MILD HYBRID VEHICLES - A powertrain system in a mild hybrid vehicle includes a hydraulic device, a pilot valve, and a regulator valve. The pilot valve is operably connected to the hydraulic device and configured to actuate. The pilot valve includes at least one micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) based device. The regulator valve is operably connected to the pilot valve and the hydraulic device. The regulator valve is configured to direct fluid to the hydraulic device based on the actuation of the pilot valve. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120090426 | MICRO ELECTRO-MECHANICAL SYSTEM (MEMS) BASED HYDRAULIC CONTROL SYSTEM FOR FULL HYBRID VEHICLES - A powertrain system in a hybrid vehicle includes a hydraulic device, a pilot valve, and a regulator valve. The pilot valve is operably connected to the hydraulic device and configured to actuate. The pilot valve includes at least one micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) based device. The regulator valve is operably connected to the pilot valve and the hydraulic device. The regulator valve is configured to direct fluid to the hydraulic device based on the actuation of the pilot valve. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120090416 | MICRO-ELECTRO-MECHANICAL-SYSTEMS BASED HYDRAULIC CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A WET DUAL CLUTCH TRANSMISSION - A wet dual clutch transmission includes at least one hydraulic component and a pilot valve operably connected to the hydraulic component to actuate the hydraulic component. The pilot valve includes a Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) based pressure differential actuator valve. The hydraulic component may include but is not limited to a first clutch and a second clutch of the wet dual clutch transmission, a lube regulator valve, an on/off solenoid, a synchronizing shift fork or a line pressure control valve. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120089615 | NEIGHBORHOOD GUIDE FOR SEMANTIC SEARCH SYSTEM AND METHOD TO SUPPORT LOCAL POI DISCOVERY - A neighborhood guide system, related method and associated database for providing information about businesses and other locations to a vehicle driver, or other user, in a more natural and informative manner than traditional IVR systems. When interacting with the user, the neighborhood guide system typically will only provide choices for the user to select from based on a user request that are in the particular vicinity of the user. Further, the neighborhood guide system provides usable information about the selected business by the user, such as hours of operation, cost, ratings, parking, etc. | 04-12-2012 |
| 20120089306 | PRESSURE REGULATION METHOD FOR AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - A transmission control system for a vehicle includes a transmission control module (TCM), a solenoid valve, a pressure regulator valve, and a transmission element. The TCM includes a control algorithm providing output signals to valve drive electronics, where the valve drive electronics supply current to the solenoid valve. The solenoid valve controls an output pressure located in a passage between the pressure regulator valve and the transmission element. During an engine start-up condition of the vehicle, the control algorithm of the TCM includes control logic for activating a solenoid adjustment algorithm. The solenoid adjustment algorithm decreases the sensitivity of the valve drive electronics when supplying current to the solenoid valve. The solenoid adjustment algorithm is activated for a predetermined amount of time after engine start-up, and is then terminated. Alternatively, the solenoid adjustment algorithm is activated until a vehicle operating condition reaches a particular value, and is then terminated. | 04-12-2012 |
| 20120089282 | METHOD AND ENGINE STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLE - A method for controlling a hybrid electric vehicle having a control system, a traction motor, and an engine includes generating an activation signal during a predetermined vehicle maneuver. The predetermined vehicle maneuver is a threshold hard braking maneuver on a surface having a low coefficient of friction. The method also includes processing the activation signal using the control system, and using the traction motor to command an injection or a passing of a feed-forward torque to the driveline of the vehicle. The feed-forward torque is in the same direction as the engine torque, and prevents a drive shaft of the engine from spinning in reverse during the maneuver. The method may include generating the activation signal in response to detecting an active state of the ABS controller. A hybrid electric vehicle includes an engine, a traction motor, and a control system configured to execute the above method. | 04-12-2012 |
| 20120089281 | METHOD AND DRIVELINE STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE - A method for controlling driveline stability in a vehicle includes generating an activation signal indicative of a predetermined vehicle maneuver, which may include a hard braking maneuver on a low coefficient of friction surface. A quick automatic shift to a neutral gear state is executed with a rapid dumping or bleeding off of clutch pressure in a designated output clutch of the vehicle. An activated state of an antilock braking system (ABS) may be used as part of the activation signal. The shift to the neutral gear state may occur only when a current transmission operating state is associated with the high level of driveline inertia. A vehicle includes a transmission and a control system configured to execute the above method. | 04-12-2012 |
| 20120088632 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AN AUTOMATIC ENGINE RESTART - A system and method for controlling automatic stop-start of a motor vehicle is provided. The system and method is configured to enable an automatic stop-start mode of operation that minimizes clutch fill during engine restart. | 04-12-2012 |
| 20120088631 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AN AUTOMATIC ENGINE STOP-START BASED ON TRANSMISSION CONDITIONS - A system and method for controlling automatic stop-start of a motor vehicle is provided. The system and method is configured to disable an automatic stop-start mode of operation based on accumulator pressure conditions. | 04-12-2012 |
| 20120088630 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AN AUTOMATIC ENGINE STOP-START - A system and method for controlling automatic stop-start of a motor vehicle is provided. The system and method is configured to enable an automatic stop-start mode of operation based on vehicle conditions. In addition, the system and method is configured to selectively actuate an accumulator to prime the transmission for a smooth restart. | 04-12-2012 |
| 20120088444 | MOTOR VEHICLE - A motor vehicle is provided having a ventilation system. The ventilation system includes, but is not limited to at least one front ventilation opening for supplying air to a passenger on a front seat, a rear ventilation opening for supplying air to a passenger on a rear seat, an air duct for conducting air to the rear ventilation opening, the air duct being situated between the front seats in the area of a central console, the air duct being integrated in a removable central console part. | 04-12-2012 |
| 20120088177 | ADAPTIVE COMPRESSOR SURGE CONTROL IN A FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system having an adaptable compressor map and method for optimizing the adaptable compressor map is provided. The method includes the steps of establishing an initial operating setpoint for an air compressor based on the adaptable compressor map; monitoring a surge indicator; adjusting the adaptable compressor map based on the monitored surge indicator; determining a desired operating setpoint based on the adjusted adaptable compressor map; and establishing an adapted operating setpoint for the air compressor based on the adaptable compressor map following the adjustment thereof. The steps are repeated until the adaptable compressor map for the air compressor is optimized. | 04-12-2012 |
| 20120087091 | Integrated Thermal And Structural Management Solution For Rechargeable Energy Storage System Assembly - A thermal management component for a Rechargeable Energy Storage Systems (RESS) assembly and a method of managing the temperature of a RESS battery module using the component are disclosed. The thermal management component comprises (i) a frame having a chamber defined therein; and (ii) a heat exchange plate in mechanical communication with at least a portion of the frame. The method comprises (a) providing a thermal management component as described herein; and (b) circulating at least one heat transfer fluid through said component. | 04-12-2012 |
| 20120085617 | PASSIVE MECHANICAL LAUNCH DEVICE - A device is provided that includes a torque-transmitting mechanism selectively engageable by centripetal force to transfer torque between a rotatable input member and a rotatable output member. A mass is connected for rotation with the output member and is configured to move radially outward as the output member rotates to reduce torque transfer from the input member to the output member as the speed of the output member approaches the speed of the input member. Furthermore, the mass connected for rotation with the output member may create a force that causes torque transfer between the input member and the output member when the output member rotates faster than the input member. | 04-12-2012 |
| 20120085451 | HYDRAULIC ACCUMULATOR - A hydraulic accumulator includes a cylindrical body or housing having male or external threads on each end and shoulders proximate the ends of the threads nearer the center of the cylindrical body or housing that act as stops. An end cap having internal or female threads is disposed at one end of the accumulator. The accumulator may be threaded into a manifold or control valve assembly or it may include a second threaded end cap having an access, i.e., inlet/outlet, port. A piston resides within the accumulator and is biased by a pair of compression springs toward the manifold, control valve body or second threaded end cap. | 04-12-2012 |
| 20120085450 | ACCUMULATOR ASSEMBLY - An accumulator assembly for a motor vehicle powertrain includes an armature and a follower. Together the armature and the follower can selectively lock together. The accumulator assembly may include a biasing member and a solenoid. When the solenoid is de-energized, the biasing member pushes the armature towards the follower to lock the armature and the follower together. When the solenoid is energized, the armature is magnetically drawn towards the solenoid and away from the follower to unlock the two components and to compress the biasing member. | 04-12-2012 |
| 20120085308 | Intake tract of a combustion air of a vehicle - An intake tract is provided for combustion air of a vehicle. The intake tract includes, but is not limited to an intake opening and an intake channel. At the end of the intake channel a sound source is arranged, which is sound-dampened by a sound damping device in the intake channel. An air filter is arranged between part regions of the intake channel and downstream of the air filter an air mass sensor is provided in an intake channel section, wherein the intake channel section of the air mass sensor includes, but is not limited to the sound damping device. | 04-12-2012 |
| 20120085307 | Intake system of combustion air of a vehicle - An intake system of combustion air is provided for a vehicle. The intake system has an intake opening, an intake duct, and an air filter. The intake opening is situated on one side of a water separation container, which is fixed on a girder of the vehicle. The intake opening is situated in a front most front face of the vehicle in the travel direction for this purpose. | 04-12-2012 |
| 20120085228 | DIESEL PISTON WITH BI-METALLIC DOME - A diesel piston with a cast bi-metallic dome and a method of making the piston. In one form, the dome may include a laminate of a relatively high-temperature material, for example, stainless steel, and a relatively low temperature material, for example, aluminum or aluminum alloys, such that the portion of the dome made from the relatively high-temperature material is directly exposed to combustion within a cylinder into which the piston is placed. In another form, an aluminum coated stainless steel ring is used to form the dome. In one form, an ablation casting process may be used to manufacture the dome. | 04-12-2012 |
| 20120085227 | LATCHING ASSEMBLY FOR AN ACCUMULATOR - An accumulator assembly includes a pressure canister and a latching assembly. The latching assembly includes a solenoid, an actuator, and a piston. The piston is slidingly engaged within an interior space the canister. The piston divides the interior space of the canister into an air chamber and a fluid filled chamber. The fluid filled chamber is in fluid communication with a fluid supply line. A biasing member is located within the air filled chamber and exerts a biasing force on the piston. The solenoid induces a magnetic field used to actuate the actuator, where the actuator selectively engages with a groove located along an outer surface of the piston. When the actuator disengages from the groove, the biasing force exerted by the biasing member urges the piston to slide within the canister, causing fluid to discharge from the fluid chamber and into the supply line. | 04-12-2012 |
| 20120085198 | SELECTABLE MASS FLYWHEEL - A selectable mass flywheel assembly for a powertrain of a motor vehicle includes a first mass and a second mass. The first mass is connected to a crankshaft of an engine and the second mass engages with a clutch to transfer torque from the engine to a transmission. The two masses are rotationally coupled to each other with a spring and damper assembly. The flywheel assembly further includes a locking mechanism that engages both masses during the startup of the engine to lock the two masses together to minimize the vibrations and pulsations in the powertrain during startup of the engine. | 04-12-2012 |
| 20120085082 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING LOW QUALITY REDUCTANT AND CATALYST DEGRADATION IN SELECTIVE CATALYTIC REDUCTION SYSTEMS - A control system for a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system includes a conversion efficiency determination module, an ammonia slip determination module, and a diagnostic module. The conversion efficiency determination module determines a conversion efficiency of an SCR catalyst. The ammonia slip determination module determines an amount of ammonia slip across the SCR catalyst when the conversion efficiency is less than a predetermined threshold. The diagnostic module determines pass/fail statuses of a reductant supply and the SCR catalyst based on the amount of ammonia slip and at least one ammonia slip threshold. | 04-12-2012 |
| 20120083952 | CONTROL OF ENGINE START FOR A HYBRID SYSTEM - A powertrain includes an electric motor providing propulsion torque to a transmission input shaft, an internal combustion engine, and an engine disconnect clutch selectively providing torque transfer between the engine and the motor. A method to control a flying engine start in the powertrain includes monitoring an output torque request, determining the propulsion torque to the transmission input shaft based upon the output torque request, determining a compensation torque to be provided to the engine disconnect clutch for the flying engine start, and controlling the motor to provide a motor torque based upon a sum of the propulsion torque and the compensation torque. | 04-05-2012 |
| 20120083951 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING AN EV MODE TRANSITION IN A TWO-MODE HYBRID VEHICLE - A method of executing an electric-only (EV) mode transition in a vehicle includes determining vehicle operating values using a control system, processing the values to identify the transition, and executing the transition to or from the first or second EV mode. The transition is executed by selectively engaging and disengaging the input brake to zero, and by using the first and/or second traction motor to synchronize slip across the input brake. When the transition is from the first to the second EV mode or vice versa, the control system may use multiple speed and torque control phases to enter multiple intermediate modes, e.g., a pair of engine-on electrically-variable transmission modes and a fixed gear mode. A vehicle includes an engine, an input brake, first and second traction motors, and a transmission driven via the motors in a first and second EV mode. The vehicle includes the control system noted above. | 04-05-2012 |
| 20120083950 | ENHANCED STABILITY CONTROL FOR AN ELECTRIC POWERTRAIN - A vehicle having an electric powertrain includes a control system for executing a driveline stability control method. A host machine determines vehicle speed prior to an electric-only (EV) mode or EV mode shift/transition, filters an initial motor torque command to the traction motor via a notch filter as a function of vehicle speed to generate a filtered motor torque command, and controls the motor during the EV mode or transition using the filtered motor torque command. The notch filter may have a center frequency and/or a damping coefficient tunable to changing vehicle speed. A control system for the vehicle includes the host machine, a notch filter, and optionally a vehicle speed-based active damping module. The host machine controls the motor during the EV mode or transition using the filtered motor torque command from the filter, and may provide the damping control during the EV mode or transition. | 04-05-2012 |
| 20120083385 | CONTROL OF A POWERTRAIN FOR A HYBRID SYSTEM - A powertrain includes a first electric motor coupled to an internal combustion engine with a ratio changing device and a second motor selectively coupled to the engine through an engine disconnect clutch, the second motor further coupled to an input shaft of a transmission. A method to control the powertrain includes monitoring a propelling torque provided by the second motor, monitoring a speed of the second motor, determining a condition of the second motor based upon the propelling torque and the speed of the second motor, selecting a control mode for the first motor based upon the condition of the second motor and controlling the first motor, the second motor, and the engine disconnect clutch based upon the control mode. | 04-05-2012 |
| 20120082893 | LITHIUM ION BATTERY - One embodiment may include a lithium ion battery, wherein one or more chelating agents may be attached to a battery component | 04-05-2012 |
| 20120082570 | DUAL DRIVE PUMP SYSTEM - A dual drive pump system for rear wheel or front wheel drive automatic transmission in a motor vehicle includes a dual drive pump disposed off-axis of the transmission input shaft axis and driven by a gear train driven by a hub. The dual drive pump is also driven by a gear train driven by an auxiliary motor. Torque multiplication through the gear train allows the dual drive pump to have a smaller displacement while still providing the hydraulic pressure needs of the transmission. The dual drive pump may be driven by either an engine or the auxiliary motor depending on the operating conditions of the motor vehicle. | 04-05-2012 |
| 20120081219 | MOTOR VEHICLE WITH WARNING SYSTEM - A motor vehicle includes, but is not limited to an environment sensor for identifying a source of danger external to the vehicle and detecting at least one first direction in which the source of danger lies when viewed from the vehicle, and a loudspeaker arrangement which can be triggered, when a source of danger has been identified, to generate a warning signal which for a listener in a passenger cell of the vehicle appears to come from the first direction. The environment sensor is furthermore equipped to trigger the loudspeaker arrangement to produce a second signal following the warning signal, which for the listener appears to come from a second direction different from the first direction. | 04-05-2012 |
| 20120080932 | RIM - A rim is provided for a motor vehicle wheel that includes, but is not limited to a rim ring for receiving a tire, a rim hub for fastening to a shaft and a plurality of rim struts each connected to the rim ring and to the rim hub. Between each two adjacent rim struts a cooling opening is formed, and the rim hub and/or the rim ring and/or the rim strut includes, but is not limited to at least one fastening for the releasable connection to a flow guide plate for guiding headwind. Because of this, a rim of simple design configuration is created, which with a low aerodynamic resistance makes possible good cooling of a brake unit. | 04-05-2012 |
| 20120080536 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A FUEL INJECTOR - A method for controlling an electromagnetically-activated fuel injector includes determining an injector activation signal having an injection duration, an initial peak pull-in current and a secondary hold current corresponding to a preferred injected fuel mass for a fuel injection event associated with a non-monotonic region of injector operation, and controlling the fuel injector using the injector activation signal to achieve the preferred injected fuel mass for the fuel injection event. | 04-05-2012 |
| 20120080014 | CHARGE AIR COOLING DEVICE FOR A COMBUSTION ENGINE - A charge air cooling device is provided for a combustion engine with a first heat exchanger configured to transmit thermal energy of a charge airflow to a coolant and with a second heat exchanger by which thermal energy of the coolant can be discharged into the surroundings. The first heat exchanger is designed as coaxial tube heat exchanger, which directly connects a compressor provided for the combustion air to the engine. | 04-05-2012 |
| 20120080003 | DUAL DRIVE PUMP SYSTEM USING AN ENGINE STARTER MOTOR - A dual drive pump system for rear wheel or front wheel drive automatic transmission in a motor vehicle includes a dual drive pump disposed off-axis of the transmission input shaft axis and driven by a gear train driven by a hub. The dual drive pump is also driven by a gear train driven by an engine starter motor. Torque multiplication through the gear train allows the dual drive pump to have a smaller displacement while still providing the hydraulic pressure needs of the transmission. The dual drive pump may be driven by either an engine or the engine starter motor depending on the operating conditions of the motor vehicle. | 04-05-2012 |
| 20120078485 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETERMINING CRANKSHAFT POSITION BASED INDICATED MEAN EFFECTIVE PRESSURE (IMEP) - A system for a vehicle includes a filtering module and an indicated work module. The filtering module generates engine speeds based on positions of teeth of a toothed wheel that rotates with a crankshaft and based on a crankshaft position signal generated by a crankshaft position sensor. The crankshaft position sensor generates the crankshaft position signal based on rotation of the toothed wheel. The indicated work module generates an indicated work for a combustion cycle of a cylinder of an engine based on squares of first and second ones of the engine speeds and outputs the indicated work. | 03-29-2012 |
| 20120077430 | TRANSMITTING DEVICE, RECEIVING DEVICE, COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A TRANSMITTING DEVICE AND A RECEIVING DEVICE - A transmitting device is provided for a communication system, which has at least one transmitting antenna, the at least one transmitting antenna being implemented to generate an emission field by emitting electromagnetic waves in an emission region. In addition, the transmitting device has a first ascertainment device, which is implemented to ascertain whether at least one receiving device for receiving the emitted electromagnetic waves, which forms a non-trustworthy receiver, is situated inside the emission region. In addition, the transmitting device has a first adaptation device, which is implemented to adapt an emission field of the at least one transmitting antenna, if at least one receiving device, which forms a non-trustworthy receiver, is ascertained inside the emission region, in such a manner that a field strength of the electromagnetic waves is reduced at the location of the at least one receiving device. | 03-29-2012 |
| 20120076608 | ACTIVE LASHING MATERIALS AND EYELETS - A securing assembly adapted for promoting a more secure relationship through active material actuation, facilitating lashing, attenuating tension, reducing slack, and/or facilitating unlashing, include selectively or passively modified lashing material and/or eyelets comprising active material elements. | 03-29-2012 |
| 20120074738 | SEAT BELT - A seat belt is provided for the protection of vehicle occupants of an automobile against accidents that includes, but is not limited to a webbing for restraining the vehicle occupant, a locking tongue movably connected to the webbing in a longitudinal direction of the webbing for locking with a belt lock, and a textile retaining device connected immovably to the webbing, having an insertion opening for at least partial receipt of the locking tongue. The retaining device forms an outlet opening opposite the insertion opening. Since the region opposite the insertion opening is not closed, but open, the design structure of the retaining device can be simplified and a simpler fastening of the retaining device to the webbing can be achieved, so that the manufacture of the seat belt is simplified. | 03-29-2012 |
| 20120074730 | HOUSING FOR THE RADIATOR BLIND OF A MOTOR VEHICLE - A housing is provided for a radiator blind of a motor vehicle that includes, but is not limited to a base section that is configured to accommodate the radiator blind, a prescribed port, and an adapter section that is secured to the prescribed port. | 03-29-2012 |
| 20120072162 | METHOD FOR ESTIMATING AN EXHAUST GAS TEMPERATURE - A Method is provided for estimating a temperature of an exhaust gas in an exhaust line of an internal combustion engine. The exhaust line is provided with a NO | 03-22-2012 |
| 20120072103 | INFORMATION DISPLAY ARRANGEMENT - An information display arrangement for a vehicle with a dashboard and a steering arrangement. The steering arrangement includes, but is not limited to a steering facility and a steering column. The information display arrangement includes, but is not limited to a first display facility, which in viewing direction of a vehicle driver is arranged behind the steering facility in the dashboard of the vehicle and the information display arrangement includes, but is not limited to a second display facility that is arranged on the steering column. | 03-22-2012 |
| 20120072072 | CONTROL DEVICE - A control device is provided for integration in a vehicle that includes, but is not limited to a steering arrangement, that includes, but is not limited to a steering device and a steering column. The control device is configured to control an information display arrangement that includes, but is not limited to a display device. The control device is formed by at least one touch-sensitive surface, which is aligned radially to an imaginary straight line G through a center of the steering device, and/or which is directed toward a driver's and/or passenger's door of the vehicle. | 03-22-2012 |
| 20120071289 | MULTI-SPEED TRANSMISSION HAVING AUTOMATIC AND MANUAL MODES - A transmission is disclosed having an input member, an output member, and first, second, third and fourth planetary gear sets each having first, second and third members. A plurality of interconnecting members continuously interconnect one of the first, second and third members of one of the planetary gear sets with one of the first, second and third members of another of the planetary gear sets. Six torque-transmitting mechanisms are selectively engageable in combinations of at least three to establish at least nine forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio between the input member and the output member. The first of the five torque-transmitting mechanisms is a selectable one-way clutch. | 03-22-2012 |
| 20120068513 | UNLOCKING DEVICE - An unlocking device is provided for a vehicle seat of a motor vehicle, particularly for a vehicle seat with a foldable backrest, that includes, but is not limited to a basic element arranged on the backrest of the vehicle seat with a longitudinal axis, an unlocking element rotatable connected about a swivel axis to the basic element, as well as a belt guide. The swivel axis is substantially arranged perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the basic element and the swivel axis is arranged in a plane of the backrest, and the belt guide configured in the form of an open profile. Through the unlocking element an improved entering is made possible. | 03-22-2012 |
| 20120068499 | FRAME STRUCTURE FOR THE BODY FLOOR OF A MOTOR VEHICLE, FLOOR UNIT, UNDERBODY AND VEHICLE BODY - A frame structure is provided for the body floor of a motor vehicle, particularly of a motor vehicle with occupants seated up high, as for example off-road sedan, off-road car or van. It is provided that the frame structure is designed in the manner of a ladder frame. A floor unit is provided and an underbody for a vehicle body. Furthermore, the a motor vehicle is provided, particularly the vehicle body of a motor vehicle. | 03-22-2012 |
| 20120068442 | VEHICLE SEAT WITH AN AIRBAG DEVICE - A vehicle seat is provided with an airbag device that has an airbag and a gas generator. A seat covering of the vehicle seat has a tear seam, which is connected to a tear section of a coupling element. In addition to the tear section, the coupling element has an assembly section that is connected to the airbag device or the vehicle seat. The tear section and assembly section of the coupling element are detachably connected to each other or a hinge is provided between the tear section and the assembly section. | 03-22-2012 |
| 20120067690 | HYDRAULIC CLUTCH AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING AN ADAPTIVE CLUTCH FILL VOLUME OF THE HYDRAULIC CLUTCH - At least a method is provided learning a characteristic filling volume of a hydraulic clutch. The method includes, but is not limited to applying a pressure pulse to the hydraulic clutch when the clutch is in a disengaged state and determining an inflection event at an input or at an output of a torque path in which the hydraulic clutch is situated. A characteristic filling volume of the hydraulic clutch is derived from the determined inflection event. Furthermore, a method is provided for learning a characteristic return spring pressure of the hydraulic clutch, for engaging the hydraulic clutch and corresponding devices for carrying out these methods. | 03-22-2012 |
| 20120067327 | TORQUE LIMITING ENGINE LUBRICATION PROTECTION SYSTEM - A lubrication torque limit module includes a temperature module that determines a temperature of an engine and generates an engine temperature signal. A limit module generates a torque limit signal based on the temperature signal and a speed of the engine. The torque limit signal identifies an indicated torque maximum limit. A torque arbitration module limits indicated torque of the engine based on the indicated torque maximum limit. The indicated torque of the engine is equal to an unmanaged brake torque of the engine plus an overall friction torque of the engine. | 03-22-2012 |
| 20120065856 | USE OF A CLUTCH PROPORTIONAL-INTEGRAL CONTROLLER TO ASSIST A STATE OBSERVER DURING A VEHICLE SHIFT EVENT - A method for optimizing a shift event in a vehicle includes designating a clutch to be used as an oncoming clutch or an offgoing clutch in the shift event before executing the shift event, and processing a plurality of input values through a state observer to thereby determine, as an output value of the state observer, an estimated slip speed of the designated clutch. The method includes using a proportional-integral control module for the designated clutch (a clutch PI) to close the control loop on the estimated slip speed from the state observer, thereby smoothing a switching between state space equations in the state observer, and executing the shift event. A vehicle includes a transmission, an engine, at least one traction motor, and a control system configured for executing the above method. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120065855 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF DETECTING A FAILED FRICTION ELEMENT - A system includes a friction element having a driving mechanism and a driven mechanism. At least one of the driving mechanism and the driven mechanism is configured to rotate. A drive unit is configured to provide a torque to at least one of the driving mechanism and the driven mechanism. A control processor is configured to diagnose a friction element failure based on a slip speed, which is the difference between rotational speeds of the driving mechanism and the driven mechanism. The control processor is further configured to induce a slip condition as part of a shift process and diagnose the friction element failure if the derived slip speed is substantially zero after inducing the slip condition. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120065838 | SPEED CONSTRAINT CONTROL PROCEDURE - A method includes receiving speed constraints associated with two independent vehicle components and receiving speed constraints associated with a first dependent vehicle component and a second dependent vehicle component. The method further includes defining a relationship between the received speed constraints of the independent vehicle components and the first and second dependent vehicle components. Moreover, speed values of an unknown speed constraint associated with a third dependent component are derived based on the defined relationship between the received speed constraints of the independent vehicle components and the first and second dependent vehicle components. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120065821 | FREQUENCY SPLITTING AND INDEPENDENT LIMITATION OF VEHICLE TORQUE CONTROL - A method for optimizing torque control in a vehicle having a controller and a rotating member includes generating a closed-loop total proportional torque command using a state space feedback portion of the controller, and splitting the total proportional torque command into high-frequency and low-frequency proportional torque components. A total proportional torque is passed to the rotating member to provide driveline damping control when speed control is not required. The high-frequency proportional torque component is passed to the rotating member to provide driveline damping control, and the low-frequency torque component is passed with a total integral torque command to the rotating member to provide speed control, when speed control is required. A vehicle includes a controller having proportional-integral control capabilities and a state space observer, and a powertrain having a rotating member whose speed and damping characteristics are controlled by the controller. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120065820 | ONE-SIDED DETECTION AND DISABLING OF INTEGRATOR WIND UP FOR SPEED CONTROL IN A VEHICLE - A method or algorithm controls a motor in a vehicle having a proportional-integral controller. The controller determines a commanded damping control torque as a proportional output torque value and a commanded motor speed control torque as an integrator output torque value. The integrator torque output value is frozen only if the proportional torque output value saturates against a limit and the direction of the speed error is the same as that of the integrator torque output value. The proportional torque output value is calculated using different error values than are used in calculating the integrator output value. A vehicle includes one or more traction motors and the controller noted above. For two motors, the controller determines the damping torques and motor speed control torques separately for each motor. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120065785 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF MANAGING LINE PRESSURE IN A VEHICLE DURING A FAULT PENDING CONDITION - An exemplary system includes a hydraulic device configured to operate at a fluid pressure. A sensor is configured to measure fluid pressure in the hydraulic device and generate a pressure signal representative of the measured fluid pressure. An actuator configured to regulate fluid flow to the hydraulic device. A control module is configured to identify a fault pending condition based on the measured fluid pressure, increase the fluid pressure in the hydraulic device during the fault pending condition, and iteratively enable and disable the actuator during the fault pending condition to determine if the actuator has failed. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120065009 | CONTROL FOR A VARIABLE TENSIONING DEVICE FOR A RIBBEDV-BELT OF A MOTOR VEHICLE DRIVE - A tensioning device is provided for a ribbed V-belt of a motor vehicle with at least one tensioning pulley that is directly and functionally connected to the ribbed V-belt and with a controller designed for varying the position and/or configuration of the tensioning pulley in dependence on the instantaneous operating state of at least one belt pulley on a driven side and/or a driving side that is connected to the ribbed V-belt in order to operationally adapt the tension of the ribbed V-belt. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120064423 | DYNAMIC VOLTAGE SUPPRESSION IN A FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A system and method for determining a maximum average cell voltage set-point for fuel cells in a fuel cell stack that considers oxidation of the catalyst in the fuel cells. The method includes determining the average cell voltage, the stack current density (I) and an internal resistance (R) of membranes in the fuel cells to calculate an IR corrected average cell voltage. The IR corrected average cell voltage is then used to determine the oxidation state of the catalyst particles using, for example, an empirical model. The oxidation state of the particles is then used to calculate the maximum average cell voltage set-point of the fuel cells, which is used to set the minimum power requested from the fuel cell stack. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120061203 | CAST-IN SPLINE SLEEVE FOR CLUTCH HUB - A composite, i.e., two element, two material clutch hub includes an inner sleeve of a heavy, high strength material to and about which is cast an outer element of a lighter, lower strength material. The sleeve typically includes a splined opening that is received on one or two complementarily splined shafts and a plurality of radially oriented pins or lugs or a discontinuous flange about which the outer element is cast. The outer element is splined to the friction plate of a clutch or other component. The high strength material is preferably, though not necessarily, steel and the lighter material is preferably, though not necessarily, an aluminum alloy. Alternatively, the sleeve may be a high strength aluminum alloy such as a metal matrix composite (MMC) and the outer element may be a lower strength, different aluminum alloy. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120060632 | SYNCHRONIZING DEVICE OF A TRANSMISSION - A synchronizing device of a transmission is provided with a cylindrical synchronizer body having an external toothing. A shifting sleeve includes, but is not limited to an internal toothing. The internal toothing axially displaceably meshes with the external tooting of the synchronizer body. A synchronizing ring includes, but is not limited to a locking gear rim. In clearances distributed on the circumference of the synchronizer body, pre-synchronizing elements are arranged. The pre-synchronizing elements are in spring-elastic engagement with the shifting sleeve and are arrested by the shifting sleeve in a middle position. A face end of the locking gear rim includes, but is not limited to outward bulges in direction of the pre-synchronizing elements subject to the setting of spacing between synchronizing ring and pre-synchronizing elements. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120060478 | METHOD FOR DIAGNOSING A DIESEL OXIDATION CATALYST - A method and a control system are provided for diagnosing a diesel combustion catalyst that is located in an exhaust line within a diesel engine system. The method comprising providing an unburned fuel mass flow through the diesel oxidation catalyst, determining the oxidation heat release rate which is related to the exothermic oxidation reactions of the unburned fuel into the diesel oxidation catalyst, integrating the determined oxidation heat release rate on a time interval, integrating the unburned fuel mass flow on the same time interval, dividing the integrated value of oxidation heat release rate and the integrated value of unburned fuel mass flow for determining an efficiency index (DOI) of the diesel oxidation catalyst. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120059539 | OUTPUT TORQUE MANAGEMENT IN A VEHICLE HAVING AN ELECTRIC POWERTRAIN - A method for managing a threshold increase in output torque capability in a vehicle includes detecting the threshold increase in output torque capability using a controller, and automatically limiting, via the controller, a rate of change of an actual output torque from a transmission of the vehicle in response to the threshold increase. The actual output torque is provided via a traction motor solely using battery power from an energy storage system. The method may include calculating a difference between the threshold increase and the actual output torque, and limiting the rate of change using a rate that is proportional to the difference. A vehicle includes the ESS, a transmission, and a controller. An output member of the transmission is powered using electrical energy from the ESS. The controller manages an increase in output torque capability as noted above. | 03-08-2012 |
| 20120059538 | CLOSED-LOOP SPEED AND TORQUE DAMPING CONTROL FOR HYBRID AND ELECTRIC VEHICLES - A method for minimizing driveline disturbances in a vehicle includes using a controller to automatically combine a damping torque control command with a motor speed control command in a closed loop to prevent a perceptible discontinuity in an applied motor torque during a change in transmission gear states. The method may include calculating error values in the rotational speeds of one or two traction motors, and using the calculated error value(s) to determine a required damping torque. The controller can multiply the error value for one traction motor by a gain value of the other traction motor before determining the required damping torque. A vehicle includes first and second traction motors, a transmission, and a controller. The transmission is powered by the traction motors, and the controller combines a damping torque control command with motor speed control command to prevent a discontinuity in an applied motor torque as noted above. | 03-08-2012 |
| 20120058856 | MULTI-SPEED TRANSMISSION - A transmission of the present invention has an input member, an output member, four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. The torque transmitting devices may include clutches and brakes. The torque transmitting devices are selectively engageable in combinations of at least two to establish at least nine forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio. | 03-08-2012 |
| 20120056422 | PIPE CONNECTION FOR CONNECTING PIPES OF A MOTOR VEHICLE, EXHAUST SYSTEM, AIR INTAKE SYSTEM AND MOTOR VEHICLE - A pipe connection is provided for connecting pipes of a motor vehicle, particularly exhaust pipes for an exhaust system or intake pipes for the intake tract of a combustion engine, with two pipes to be connected to each other. It is provided that at least one of the pipes has a thread which can be brought into engagement with a mating thread of a connecting element of the pipe connection to be connected to the other pipe. An exhaust system is provided for a motor vehicle and an air intake system is provided for a motor vehicle and a motor vehicle. | 03-08-2012 |
| 20120056046 | FASTENING DEVICE HAVING A COMPENSATING RAIL FOR TOLERANCE COMPENSATION - A fastening device for fixing lines in the engine compartment of a motor vehicle, in particular lines for the air conditioner. Fastening recesses are provided in the engine compartment, on which the fastening device can be anchored. The fastening device has a clip base for this purpose. A clip head is used for fastening the fastening device to the line. At least one of the fastening clips is situated so it is longitudinally movable on the compensating rail, so that the fastening device can be adapted to the installation situation. | 03-08-2012 |
| 20120055559 | FLUID SUPPLY SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATING A FLUID SUPPLY SYSTEM - A fluid supply system is provided for cooling and lubricating a transmission of an automobile, which includes, but is not limited to a cooling channel for cooling the transmission and a lubrication channel for lubricating the transmission. The lubrication channel communicates with the cooling channel via a shift valve. The shift valve is adapted to provide at least a first valve status, by which the cooling channel is connected to the lubrication channel via only one first valve path, and a second valve status, by which the cooling channel is connected to the lubrication channel via at least the first valve path and by which the cooling channel is connected in addition via a second valve path to a bypass channel bypassing the lubrication channel. Since at least two different valve statuses optimized for low and high power are provided, it is possible to reduce unnecessary spin losses over the whole range of applied powers. Further, there is no need for unfavorable compromises, so that a reduced flow generation loss over the whole range of applied powers is provided, while sufficient cooling and lubricating is safeguarded at the same time. | 03-08-2012 |
| 20120055449 | HYSTERESIS-TYPE ELECTRONIC CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR FUEL INJECTORS AND ASSOCIATED METHOD - A hysteresis-type electronic controlling device is provided for fuel injectors that includes, but is not limited to a power driving unit for driving the fuel injectors with an electric signal, a control stage connected to the power driving unit and a sensing stage fed by the power driving unit and feeding the control stage, the device has a feedback frequency control stage for measuring a waveform period of the signal feeding the fuel injectors; the feedback frequency control stage is fed by the control stage with an electric signal. A fuel injector control method is also provided that includes, but is not limited to driving fuel injectors with an electric signal coming from a power driving unit fed by a control stage , sensing the signal with a sensing stage, and measuring a waveform period of the signal through the feedback frequency control stage. | 03-08-2012 |
| 20120055425 | ENGINE CONFIGURATION FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE - An engine configuration for a motor vehicle is provided that has an internal combustion engine having direct fuel injection, which is thermally coupled to a cooling circuit to dissipate waste heat occurring in operation, and having a storage unit, which can be coupled to the cooling circuit, for storing thermal energy, which is implemented for the purpose of discharging store thermal energy to the cooling circuit and/or to the engine before the engine is put into operation and/or during a warm-up phase thereof. | 03-08-2012 |
| 20120055140 | EXHAUST TREATMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD OF ASSEMBLY - An exhaust treatment system for an internal combustion engine comprises an insulating and cushioning mat material disposed in the exhaust treatment system and a film laminate sleeve vacuum packed and sealing the insulating and cushioning mat material therein. | 03-08-2012 |
| 20120046845 | METHOD FOR OPERATING A DIESEL ENGINE - A method is provided for operating a Diesel engine that includes, but is not limited to measuring a value of an oxygen concentration in an exhaust gas flow discharged by the Diesel engine, determining a value of a parameter indicative of a fuel quantity that has been injected into the Diesel engine, on the basis of the measured value of the oxygen concentration, calculating a difference between the determined value of this parameter and a desired value of the parameter, and identifying a failure of a fuel injection apparatus of the Diesel engine if the calculated difference exceeds a positive threshold value of this difference. | 02-23-2012 |
| 20120044090 | MOTOR VEHICLE WITH DIGITAL PROJECTORS - A motor vehicle includes, but is not limited to a digital projector for projecting a graphic or type facial information and a monitoring circuit, to which the projector is connected, in order to project as the graphic or type facial information an information determined by the monitoring circuit in real time. | 02-23-2012 |
| 20120043787 | SLIDING ROOF CONFIGURATION FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE - A sliding roof configuration is provided for a motor vehicle having a roof frame structure, on which a cover is guided so it is displaceable between a closed position and an open position using opposing lateral guide devices. The spacing of the opposing guide devices changes in this case viewed in the displacement direction of the cover and a guide device has multiple guide rails, which each extend in the displacement direction of the cover, and are situated offset to one another in the displacement direction and diagonally or perpendicularly thereto, and which are each implemented to guide one associated sliding element. | 02-23-2012 |
| 20120043785 | MOTOR VEHICLE BODY HAVING STRUCTURE-REINFORCING FRONT FRAME ATTACHMENT - A motor vehicle body is provided having a front wall structure and having at least one lateral longitudinal girder, at least regionally situated in front of the front wall structure in the travel direction of the vehicle, and having a reinforcement element, which is connected to the front wall structure and to the longitudinal girder, the longitudinal girder and the reinforcement element, in a connection section lying in front of the front wall structure in the travel direction, being at least partially overlapping viewed in the vehicle transverse direction and being directly connected to one another. | 02-23-2012 |
| 20120043771 | FRONT STRUCTURE FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE - With a front structure for a motor vehicle, a holding mechanism for connecting a bumper to a fender includes a fastening strip and a guide rail. The fastening strip spring-elastically supports itself on the fender and is screwed to the guide rail. The bumper is latched to the guide rail. | 02-23-2012 |
| 20120043147 | ENERGY STORAGE ARRANGEMENT IN THE FLOOR AREA OF A VEHICLE - An energy storage arrangement is provided in a floor area of a vehicle that includes, but is not limited to an energy storage device carrier having a floor and side walls with a fixing mechanism for fixing at least one energy storage device. An underfloor mounting plate fixes the energy storage device carrier and the energy storage device provided in said energy storage device carrier on an underfloor structure of the vehicle. A cover plate in the floor area of the vehicle covers at least the energy storage device carrier toward the vehicle interior in a media-tight manner. | 02-23-2012 |
| 20120040796 | MULTI-SPEED TRANSAXLE - A front wheel drive transmission is provided having a transmission input member, a transmission output member, four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes a sun gear member, a planet carrier member, and a ring gear member. The torque transmitting devices include clutches and a brake arranged within a transmission housing. | 02-16-2012 |
| 20120038152 | FLANGE CONNECTION - A flange connection is provided for a turbocharger and an exhaust system. The flange connection includes, but is not limited to a clamping bracket that engages over flanges provided on the turbocharger and on the exhaust system and clamps them with one another using at least one screw, which, using a screw thread provided in the clamping bracket, exerts pressure on a pressure part, which in turn exerts pressure on the edges of flanges. | 02-16-2012 |
| 20120038134 | AIRBAG SYSTEM FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE - An airbag system is provided for a motor vehicle with a first and second inflatable protective chamber, which when inflated form an angle with each other. The first and second protective chambers are linked to each other and/or to a gas feed along one side; and/or that a third inflatable protective chamber is provided, which when inflated forms an angle with the first and second protective chambers. | 02-16-2012 |
| 20120038132 | AIRBAG SYSTEM WITH A SEPARATE FIRING CHANNEL - An airbag system is provided with an airbag housing, a separate firing channel, and at least one latching connection for securing the airbag housing and firing channel to each other, which includes, but is not limited to a shaft with two opposing walls on the airbag housing or the firing channel, and a strap for introduction into the shaft, which is joined with the other airbag housing or firing channel, wherein the shaft and/or strap exhibits a first latching projection for engaging in back of a shoulder of the strap or shaft. | 02-16-2012 |
| 20120037415 | CARRIER FOR A CONTROL UNIT OF A MOTOR VEHICLE, CONTROL UNIT AND MOTOR VEHICLE - A carrier is provided for a control unit of a motor vehicle. The carrier includes, but is not limited to at least one material section for fastening to the body of a motor vehicle. It is provided that the carrier is designed for receiving at least two control units, which via an insertion region of the carrier can be mounted to the carrier from the same side. A control unit is also provided for installation in a carrier and a motor vehicle is provided with a carrier. | 02-16-2012 |
| 20120036886 | INTERNAL HEAT EXCHANGER FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE AIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEM - A heat exchanger is provided for a motor vehicle air-conditioning system with an outer tube through which a fluid and/or a gas can flow and at least one inner tube through which a fluid and/or gas can flow, which at least in sections and subject to the formation of an intermediate space through which a flow can flow runs within the outer tube and in a first region located within the outer tube branches off into at least two heat exchanger tubes. | 02-16-2012 |
| 20120036834 | Mn, Ce and Zr MIXED OXIDES OXIDATION CATALYST - The oxidation of nitrogen oxide (NO) in an oxygen-containing exhaust gas flow from a diesel or other lean-burn engine may be catalyzed using particles of co-precipitated and calcined manganese (Mn), cerium (Ce) and zirconium (Zr) mixed oxides. In preferred embodiments, the molar ratios of Mn, Ce and Zr to the total amount of base metals in the ternary mixed oxide catalyst are in the range of 0.25-0.35, 0.40-0.50 and 0.20-0.25, respectively. Further, this ternary mixed oxide catalyst is less susceptible to sulfur poisoning than previously-disclosed binary mixed oxide catalysts. The ternary mixed oxide catalyst may also be regenerated—and the inhibiting effect of SO | 02-16-2012 |
| 20120035833 | METHOD FOR ESTIMATING AN HYDRAULIC DWELL TIME BETWEEN TWO INJECTION PULSES OF A FUEL INJECTOR - A method is provided for estimating a hydraulic dwell time between a first injection pulse and a second injection pulse performed by a fuel injector of an internal combustion engine. The method includes, but is not limited to determining a value of an electric dwell time between the first injection pulse and the second injection pulse, estimating a value of an injector closing delay between an instant in which an electric closing command of the first injection pulse is generated and an instant in which the fuel injector closes, estimating a value of an injector opening delay between an instant in which an electric opening command of the second injection pulse is generated and an instant in which the fuel injector opens, and calculating a value of the hydraulic dwell time as a function of the electric dwell time value, of the injector closing delay value and of the injector opening delay value. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120035822 | METHOD AND CONTROL DEVICE FOR OPERATING A COMBUSTION ENGINE OF A MOTOR VEHICLE AND MOTOR VEHICLE - A method is provided for operating a combustion engine of a motor vehicle during a deceleration of the combustion engine. The method includes, but is not limited to determining a degree of depression of an accelerator pedal of the motor vehicle takes place, determining of a degree of depression of a brake pedal of the motor vehicle takes place. Furthermore, an adjusting of a throttle valve arranged in an intake tract of the combustion engine as a function of the determined degree of depression of the accelerator pedal and as a function of the determined degree of depression of the brake pedal takes place. The throttle valve is adjusted into an at least partially opened position in the event that the determined degree of depression of the brake pedal undershoots a first predetermined threshold value and the throttle valve is adjusted into a closed position in the event that the determined degree of depression of the brake pedal exceeds a second predetermined threshold value. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120035019 | METHOD AND APPARATUS TO DETECT A MODE-GEAR MISMATCH DURING OPERATION OF AN ELECTRO-MECHANICAL TRANSMISSION - A vehicular powertrain includes an electro-mechanical transmission mechanically-operatively coupled to an internal combustion engine. A method for operating the powertrain includes monitoring operator inputs, monitoring a transmission output, and terminating an engine operating mode when a time-rate change in the transmission output exceeds a threshold absent a change in the monitored operator inputs. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120034858 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR AVOIDING PENETRATION OF FOREIGN PARTICLES INTO A VEHICLE INTERIOR - Apparatus and method are provided for avoiding penetration of foreign particles into a vehicle interior. An apparatus for avoiding penetration of foreign particles into a vehicle interior including, but not limited to a monitoring device, which detects an expected opening of a vehicle door. In this case an overpressure generating device generates an air overpressure in the vehicle interior. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120034123 | HIGH EFFICIENCY FIXED DISPLACEMENT VANE PUMP - A vane pump for an automatic transmission includes a housing which may be spaced from the axis of the transmission input shaft axis and driven by a chain or gear train driven by the torque converter hub or disposed on and about the axis of the transmission input shaft and driven at engine speed. The vane pump includes a pair of port plates which reside on the end faces of a pump body having a cylindrical chamber which receives an eccentrically disposed rotor that is coupled to a stub shaft. The rotor includes two halves that define a central chamber. The rotor also includes a plurality of radial slots which receive a like plurality of vanes. The outer ends of the vanes are in contact with the wall of the cylindrical chamber and the inner ends are in contact with a single vane ring received within the central chamber. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120033222 | COMPOSITE PANEL HAVING INTEGRATED RAIN SENSOR - A composite pane arrangement, in particular for a motor vehicle, is provided with a composite pane that includes, but is not limited to at least two panes connected with each other by an intermediate layer, and with at least one optical sensor device for the optical detection of moisture on an outer surface of the composite pane facing away from the intermediate layer. The optical sensor device is arranged between the two panes and is electrically contacted by means of transparent, laminar conductive traces. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120032915 | OPERATING ELEMENT FOR ACTUATION BY A USER AND OPERATING ELEMENT MODULE - An operating element for actuation by a user includes, but is not limited to a movable element that can be actuated by a user and a sensor layer, which is situated below the movable element and implemented as a touchscreen, the sensor layer being implemented to establish an actuation of the movable element. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120032792 | DISPLAY APPARATUS FOR A VEHICLE - A display apparatus is provided for a vehicle that includes, but is not limited to a scale having a plurality of scale values for at least one associated operating parameter of the vehicle, including, but not limited to an indicator for the display of a current operating parameter value. The scaling of the scale is variable and an adaptation of the scaling is made depending on the current operating parameter. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120031371 | METHOD FOR OPERATING AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE HAVING SPARK IGNITION - A method is provided for operating an internal combustion engine having a spark ignition unit. A liquid fuel is mixed with air in an injection procedure and, after ignition by the spark ignition unit, combusted while discharging mechanical power. A liquefied gas is combusted as the liquid fuel. The liquefied gas is at least partially injected using a direct injection nozzle into the combustion cylinder before the ignition by the spark ignition unit. A cooling unit cools the liquefied gas at least in a return line or a supply line. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120031121 | AIR CONDITIONER AND METHOD FOR OPERATING AN AIR CONDITIONER - In an air conditioner having a refrigerant conducted in a cooling circuit, the cooling circuit includes, but is not limited to at least one vaporizer situated on a low-pressure side, a condenser situated on a high pressure side, a compressor connected between low-pressure side and high pressure side, and a thermostatic expansion valve connected between high pressure side and low pressure side, furthermore, an inner heat exchanger being provided for transferring heat from the refrigerant on the high-pressure side to refrigerant on the low-pressure side, and the thermostatic expansion valve having a head with a control filling, the characteristic curve of the control filling having a slope s with approximately 0.75 bar/10° C.≦s≦1.05 bar/10° C. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120028148 | ASSISTED STACK ANODE PURGE AT START-UP OF FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A fuel cell system that enables an assisted anode purge upon start-up is provided. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack having a plurality of fuel cells with anodes and cathodes. The fuel cell stack has an anode supply manifold and an anode exhaust manifold in fluid communication with the anodes. The fuel cell system further includes a suction device in fluid communication with at least one of the anode supply manifold and the anode exhaust manifold. The suction device adapted to selectively draw a partial vacuum on the fuel cell stack during a start-up of the fuel cell system. Methods for starting the fuel cell system are also provided. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120027222 | Vehicle Audio System Having Door Mounted Speaker Support - A vehicle audio system comprises a loud-speaker, a door assembly including a rigid inner panel and an outer panel joined to the inner panel along a front edge, a rear edge, and a bottom edge. A speaker support defined by a highly rigid panel is configured to receive and support the loud speaker in a speaker mounting opening. The speaker support comprises three sides having mounting points located at each corner such that the speaker support and loud speaker supported thereby, contacts the door assembly at a rigid front edge portion, a rigid bottom edge portion and a front corner defined by the intersection of the two. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120024271 | METHOD FOR MANAGING THE RELATIVE HUMIDITY IN THE AIR PATH OF AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE EQUIPPED WITH A LOW PRESSURE EGR SYSTEM - A method is provided for estimating the relative humidity in an intake line of an internal combustion engine provided with an intake manifold connected to the intake line, an exhaust line, and a Low Pressure EGR (LPE) conduit which fluidly connects the exhaust line to a connecting point of said intake line. The method includes, but is not limited to calculating specific humidity in the exhaust line, as a function of the O | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120019404 | METHOD FOR OPERATING AN ELECTROMECHANICAL ACTUATOR - A method is provided for operating an electromechanical actuator comprising a movable element, a position sensor for detecting the position of the movable element, a logic unit connected to the position sensor, and exactly one output line for the logic unit to transmit a pulse width modulated (PWM) signal having a predetermined frequency value, the method providing for the logic unit to perform detecting a position of the movable element, determining a value of a duty cycle of the pulse width modulated (PWM) signal on the basis of the detected position of the movable element, and transmitting a pulse width modulated (PWM) signal indicative of the position of the movable element having the determined value of the duty cycle. | 01-26-2012 |
| 20120015149 | ACTIVELY CONTROLLED TEXTURING SYSTEMS - Actively controlled texturing systems for and methods of selectively and reversibly forming wrinkles, or modifying the amplitude, wavelength, or pattern of existing wrinkles upon a surface using active material actuation. | 01-19-2012 |
| 20120015134 | INSERTS WITH HOLES FOR DAMPED PRODUCTS AND METHODS OF MAKING AND USING THE SAME - One embodiment of the invention includes a frictional damping insert including a body constructed and arranged to be incorporated into a product and to form at least a portion of a frictional damping means, the body including lines of weakness constructed and arranged to segment the body into separate sections upon exposure to a molten material. | 01-19-2012 |
| 20120011829 | METHOD TO OPERATE A DIESEL PARTICULATE FILTER - A method is provided to operate a diesel particulate filter of a Diesel engine equipped with a soot-sensor located in an outlet of the diesel particulate filter, the soot-sensor operating according to a succession of soot loading phases mutually separated by a regeneration phase. The method includes, but is not limited to setting a borderline value of the efficiency of the diesel particulate filter, resetting a value of a counter, during a regeneration phase of the soot-sensor, this value representing a soot loading level of the soot-sensor, iteratively increasing the value of this counter, during a next soot loading phase of the soot-sensor, at least until the value reaches a predetermined threshold value of the counter, and detecting an unsuited efficiency of the diesel particulate filter, if a next regeneration phase of the soot-sensor begins when the value of the counter is below the predetermined threshold value of the counter. | 01-19-2012 |
| 20120006810 | INDUCTION HEATING-ASSISTED VIBRATION WELDING METHOD AND APPARATUS - A method for heating a work piece or a welding interface using a vibration welding system includes positioning the work piece adjacent to a welding tool such that the welding interface is also adjacent to the welding tool, and then using an induction heating device to generate an eddy current in one of the welding tool and the work piece to thereby heat the welding interface to a calibrated threshold temperature or temperature range. A high-frequency vibration thereafter may be applied using a sonotrode of the vibration welding system to form a weld. The method may include adjusting the position and orientation of the induction heating device relative to the work piece to change the location of the eddy current. A vibration welding system includes a welding tool, the induction heating device, and a control module which controls the induction heating device to thereby control the welding temperature. | 01-12-2012 |
| 20120006643 | DOUBLE-ACTING SYNCHRONIZER - A double-acting synchronizer includes, but is not limited to a shaft, first and second gearwheels rotatably mounted on said shaft, a sleeve which is axially displaceable along said shaft between a position in which it locks the first gearwheel to the shaft and a position in which it locks the second gearwheel to the shaft. A single conical friction surface is formed between a first baulk ring and the first gearwheel, and multiple nested conical friction surfaces are formed between a second baulk ring and the second gearwheel. | 01-12-2012 |
| 20120006253 | SCALE ELEMENT FOR A DISPLAY INSTRUMENT, INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND VEHICLE WITH A SCALE ELEMENT - A scale element for a display instrument that includes, but is not limited to a scaling. The scaling is impressed in the volume of the scale element by means of laser shot method. The scale element can furthermore include, but is not limited to a diffusion structure likewise impressed in the volume. | 01-12-2012 |
| 20120004070 | MULTI-SPEED TRANSMISSION - A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, four planetary gear sets, a plurality of interconnecting members, and five torque transmitting mechanisms. The planetary gear sets include first, second and third members. The plurality of interconnecting members each continuously interconnect one of the first, second and third members of the planetary gear sets with another one of the first, second and third members of the planetary gear sets, and a stationary member. The torque transmitting mechanisms are selectively engageable in combinations of at least two to establish at least eight forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio between the input member and the output member. | 01-05-2012 |
| 20120004069 | MULTI-SPEED TRANSMISSION - A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, an intermediate member, four planetary gear sets, a plurality of interconnecting members, and five torque transmitting mechanisms. The planetary gear sets include first, second and third members. The plurality of interconnecting members each continuously interconnect one of the first, second and third members of the planetary gear sets with another one of the first, second and third members of the planetary gear sets, and a stationary member. The torque transmitting mechanisms are selectively engageable in combinations of at least two to establish at least eight forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio between the input member and the output member. | 01-05-2012 |
| 20120003563 | POROUS DENDRITIC PLATINUM TUBES AS FUEL CELL ELECTROCATALYSTS - Platinum particles have been formed as porous, hollow tubular dendrites by using silver dendrite particles in a galvanic replacement reaction conducted in an aqueous solution of a platinum compound. The dendritic platinum particles have been found useful as catalysts and particularly useful as a hydrogen-oxidation electrocatalyst and/or an oxygen-reduction catalyst in a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell. | 01-05-2012 |
| 20120003417 | CAST-IN-PLACE TORSION JOINT - One embodiment of the invention includes a product including an annular portion including a frictional surface and a first flange portion extending from the frictional surface, wherein the first flange portion comprises a first face, a second face, and a third face; and a hub portion and a second flange portion extending from the hub portion, wherein the second flange portion engages the first face, the second face, and the third face of the first flange portion. | 01-05-2012 |
| 20120002442 | DISPLAY DEVICE FOR A VEHICLE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING THE DISPLAY DEVICE - A display apparatus is provided for a vehicle and a method for manufacturing the display apparatus. The display apparatus includes, but is not limited to a display screen and a background lighting. Illuminated characters are disposed, imaged, or activated on the display screen. The background lighting of the display screen includes, but is not limited to illuminants which emit light into a light guide body. The light guide body is disposed on a rear side of the display screen. The light guide body includes, but is not limited to a light guide plate made of an optically transparent plastic compound, in which optically non-transparent partitions for light guide zones of the light guide body, which are optically shielded from one another, are introduced. | 01-05-2012 |
| 20120001357 | MAKING NANOCRYSTALLINE MESOPOROUS SPHERICAL PARTICLES - Spherical particles of one or more elemental metals and carbon are prepared from a precursor in the form of a metal oleate. The metal oleate precursor is dispersed in a liquid vehicle and aerosol droplets of the dispersed precursor are formed in a stream of an inert gas. The aerosol droplets are heated in the stream to decompose the oleate ligand portion of the precursor and form spherical particles that have a mesoporous nanocrystalline structure. The open mesopores of the spherical particles provide a high surface area for contact with fluids in many applications. For example, the mesopores can be infiltrated with a hydrogen absorbing material, such as magnesium hydride, in order to increase the hydrogen storage capacity of the particles. | 01-05-2012 |
| 20110320132 | METHOD FOR THE DETERMINATION OF A NOx CONCENTRATION VALUE UPSTREAM OF A SCR CATALYST IN A DIESEL ENGINE - A method is provided for the determination of a NOx concentration value upstream of a Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) catalyst in a Diesel engine, the engine having an exhaust line, a Diesel Particulate Filter and a NOx concentration sensor downstream of the SCR catalyst, the method including, but is not limited to estimating the NOx concentration value upstream of the SCR catalyst as a function of at least two engine parameters, measuring the NOx concentration downstream of the SCR catalyst, calculating the difference Z(x, y) between the estimated NOx concentration value and the measured value and, in case said difference is higher than a predetermined threshold, correcting the estimated NOx concentration value with a NOx concentration correction value. The NOx concentration correction value is calculated using a correction map that correlates said at least two engine parameters and the difference Z(x, y) with said NOx concentration correction value. | 12-29-2011 |
| 20110315112 | LUBRICATING OIL FILTER ASSEMBLY - A lubricating oil filter assembly is provided for an internal combustion engine that includes, but is not limited to a body provided with: an oil inlet, an oil outlet, a conduit connecting the oil inlet to the oil outlet, and a chamber suitable for accommodating a filter element, the chamber being in communication with the oil inlet and with the oil outlet. The lubricating oil filter assembly further includes, but is not limited to a valve assembly arranged within the conduit to enable a flow of lubricating oil in dependence of the pressure of the lubricating oil at the oil inlet. | 12-29-2011 |
| 20110313663 | DETERMINING RELATIVE SPATIAL INFORMATION BETWEEN VEHICLES - A method for determining relative spatial information between a first vehicle and a second vehicle, the method including monitoring a communication channel at the first vehicle and receiving a current communication signal sent by the second vehicle on the communication channel. The current communication signal is received at a received power level. A relative position between the first vehicle and the second vehicle is calculated. Input to the calculating includes an actual or estimated transmitted power level, and the received power level. | 12-22-2011 |
| 20110312466 | MULTI-SPEED TRANSMISSION HAVING THREE PLANETARY GEAR SETS - A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, three planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. The torque transmitting devices include clutches and brakes. | 12-22-2011 |
| 20110311783 | MULTILAYER ADHESIVE FOR THERMAL REVERSIBLE JOINING OF SUBSTRATES - One embodiment of the invention includes a multilayer dry adhesive system capable of reversible joining of rigid substrates. | 12-22-2011 |
| 20110311720 | Electrically Conductive Metal Fluid Distribution Plate for Fuel Cells - In at least one embodiment, the present invention provides an electrically conductive fluid distribution plate and a method of making, and system for using, the electrically conductive fluid distribution plate. In at least one embodiment, the plate comprises an electrically conductive fluid distribution plate comprising a metallic plate body defining a set of fluid flow channels configured to distribute flow of a fluid across at least one side of the plate, a metal-containing adhesion promoting layer having a thickness less than 100 nm disposed on the plate body, and a composite polymeric conductive layer disposed on the metal-containing adhesion promoting layer. | 12-22-2011 |
| 20110309606 | IMPACT-DAMPING STRUCTURE WITH CRASH BOXES - An impact-damping structure with crash boxes is provided with an extension of the ends of the chassis members of a vehicle to a transverse impact member. An extension pipe with a towing lug that aligns flush with the chassis member is arranged in a center of one of the crash boxes. The extension pipe is connected with the end of the chassis member via a spreading device of the crash box. | 12-22-2011 |
| 20110309593 | VEHICLE AND WATT'S LINKAGE THEREFOR - A Watt's linkage for the movable connection of two machine parts, in particular a vehicle axle and a vehicle body, includes, but is not limited to two rods, whose ends facing away from one another engage on a first of the machine parts, and a coupling device, which couples the ends of the rods facing toward one another to one another, and is linked on the second machine part. The coupling device includes, but is not limited to two levers pivotable around fixed pivot axes on the second machine part. A first engagement point of the levers is connected in each case to one of the ends of the rods facing toward one another, and second engagement points of the levers are connected to one another by a coupling body, which forces a pivot movement in opposite directions of each of the two levers around their pivot axes. | 12-22-2011 |
| 20110307122 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE DRIVING BEHAVIOR OF A VEHICLE WHEN APPROACHING A STOPPING POINT - A device is provided for controlling the driving behavior of a vehicle when approaching a stopping point with a sensing device, which determines the distance between the vehicle and the stopping point, and with an evaluation device which taking into account at least the current vehicle speed determines a rolling distance to the stopping point, which the vehicle will cover with disconnected operational connection between vehicle drive and the driven vehicle wheels. A signaling device, upon reaching of the rolling distance, generates a disconnection signal for disconnecting the operational connection. | 12-15-2011 |
| 20110304177 | BODY STRUCTURE WITH A PANE CROSS MEMBER FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE WITH A WINDSHIELD - A body structure is provided for a motor vehicle with a windshield that includes, but is not limited to a pane cross member, on which the windshield rests. The pane cross member includes, but is not limited to a first and a second edge section in the form of brackets, and a central part lying there between, which has a U-shaped cross-section. The first edge section forms a support section for the windshield, the second edge section is fastened to a fixed component of the body structure and is arranged laterally from the first edge section, and the central part is constructed such that it has a cross-section which is curved in the direction towards an engine hood of the motor vehicle and can deform on application of force from above and/or from the front. | 12-15-2011 |
| 20110303037 | DRIVE UNIT OF A TRANSMISSION - A drive unit of a transmission is provided that includes, but is not limited to a main shaft. The main shaft includes, but is not limited to a bore formed along its centre axis for the transport of lubricating oil. The lubricating oil can be introduced into the bore via a feed line, and a sealing element is provided in a transition region between the bore and the feed line. | 12-15-2011 |
| 20110300985 | MULTISPEED SPUR GEAR TRANSMISSION WITH A PLANETARY GEAR STAGE - A multispeed spur gear transmission is provided with a planetary gear stage. The multispeed spur gear transmission includes, but is not limited to a spur gear pairing for each gear, a clutch bell with clutch device for coupling a transmission input to a motor output shaft, at least one transmission drive shaft and a transmission output shaft for receiving the spur gear pairings of the gears and a transmission output with an output gear on the transmission output shaft. Between the clutch bell and the transmission input the planetary gear stage is arranged, whose planetary gear cage includes, but is not limited to a spur gear rim that meshes with at least one first spur gear of a rotor shaft of an electrodynamic device. | 12-08-2011 |
| 20110299564 | DYNAMIC ESTIMATION OF CELL CORE TEMPERATURE BY SIMPLE EXTERNAL MEASUREMENTS - Methods and systems for dynamically estimating the core temperature of at least one cell in a battery during an operative period. The method includes receiving by at least one controller the surface temperature, the current, the voltage, the state of charge, and the period of time from the initiation of a rest period to the termination of the rest period, determining an initial value of the lumped internal resistance of the at least one cell, determining subsequent values of the lumped internal resistance recursively in real-time based on the initial value, the current, and the voltage, and determining the core temperature of the at least one cell based on the surface temperature, the current, the obtained time, and the lumped internal resistance. The system for dynamically estimating the core temperature of the cells in a battery includes a plurality of sensors configured to transmit signals related to surface temperature, current, and voltage of the battery, a timing device configured to transmit signals related to the period of time from the initiation of a rest period to the termination of the rest period, and a control system, wherein the control system comprises a memory device and a controller. | 12-08-2011 |
| 20110298246 | REAR UNDERBODY FOR A VEHICLE - A rear underbody is provided for a vehicle with a rear frame structure, a floor structure forming the floor for the footwell of the vehicle and with a termination structure delimiting the footwell to the rear. It is provided that the rear frame structure extends at least partially forward and beyond the termination structure. | 12-08-2011 |
| 20110296826 | CONTROLLING HEAT IN A SYSTEM USING SMART MATERIALS - A cooling assembly adapted for use with an exothermic system, includes a manipulable cooling member and/or source, and an active material element operable to selectively inter-engage or further engage the member or source and the system through displacement or formation of a thermal link. | 12-08-2011 |
| 20110296662 | INPUT SHAFT WITH INTERNAL DRY SPLINES AND SEALED PLUG AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A HYBRID POWERTRAIN UTILIZING THE SAME - An input shaft for a hybrid transmission includes a cylindrical hollow shaft portion having internal and external surfaces. The internal surface defines an internal cavity coaxial with the hollow shaft portion and has a splined portion configured to allow power to be transferred to the hollow shaft portion. The input shaft may further include a freeze plug press-fit in the internal cavity, configured to fluidly seal the inner cavity in embodiments with a cavity extending throughout the input shaft. The splined portion may be a broached spline. A method of manufacturing a hybrid powertrain includes forming a hollow transmission input shaft and press-fitting a plug into it, such that the shaft is internally fluid sealed. The shaft is mated to the transmission which may then be filled with fluid and tested for operability. The shaft may be dry-mated to an engine output member for common rotation therewith. | 12-08-2011 |
| 20110295976 | METHOD FOR UPDATING THE DATA OF A NAVIGATION SYSTEM - In a method for updating the data of a data storage device of a navigation system, updated data are transmitted by local data transmission stations and stored in the data storage device. To improve the usage opportunities of the navigation system, the updated data are transferred to a service provider. | 12-01-2011 |
| 20110295467 | PRE-COLLISION ASSESSMENT OF POTENTIAL COLLISION SEVERITY FOR ROAD VEHICLES - A method of predicting severity of a potential collision of first and second vehicles. The method includes determining that a probability of a potential collision of the vehicles is greater than a threshold value. Vehicle condition-defining signals are exchanged between the vehicles when the probability of the potential collision is greater than the threshold value including a first vehicle condition-defining signal developed on board the first vehicle and a second vehicle condition-defining signal developed onboard the second vehicle. The method further includes predicting onboard the first vehicle a severity of the potential collision for the first vehicle based upon input that includes the first vehicle condition-defining signal and the second vehicle condition-defining signal. A severity of the potential collision for the second vehicle is predicted onboard the second vehicle based upon the second vehicle condition-defining signal and the first vehicle condition-defining signal. | 12-01-2011 |
