Abstract:
A control system of a vehicle comprising: i) a plurality of adjustable aerodynamic control devices associated with the vehicle; ii) a fuel economy sensor configured to determine a first fuel economy measurement; and iii) an aerodynamic device controller module configured to adjust a first one of the plurality of adjustable aerodynamic control devices and to receive from the fuel economy sensor a second fuel economy measurement. The aerodynamic device controller module stores in an onboard database state information corresponding to settings of the plurality of adjustable aerodynamic control devices if the second fuel economy measurement is an improvement over the first fuel economy measurement.
Abstract:
An adaptive radiant heating system regulates a climate inside a motor vehicle cabin having a seat for a vehicle occupant. The system includes radiant heating tiles arranged proximate the seat and powered by an energy storage device. The system also includes a first sensor for detecting a position of the occupant and generating a first signal indicative thereof. The system additionally includes a second sensor for detecting a temperature within the cabin and generating a second signal indicative thereof. The system furthermore includes an electronic controller in operative communication with the tiles and the first and second sensors, and configured to regulate the climate proximate the seat via selective control of the tiles. The controller is configured to receive the first and second signals and activate at least one of the tiles in response to the first and second signals, to thereby regulate the climate proximate the seat.
Abstract:
A method of regulating thermal comfort of an occupant of a vehicle cabin uses a radiant heating tile powered via an energy storage device to generate thermal energy. The method also includes detecting the occupant's position via a position sensor and detecting the occupant's surface temperature and detecting a temperature of the tile via at least one temperature sensor. The method additionally includes determining, via an electronic controller, a rate of change of occupant's surface temperature and a difference between the tile temperature and the occupant's surface temperature relative to a predetermined temperature set-point. The method further includes regulating, via the electronic controller, a power input from the energy storage device to the tile in response to the determined rate of change of the surface temperature and the determined difference between the tile temperature and the occupant's surface temperature to thereby regulate the occupant's surface temperature.
Abstract:
Systems and methods are provided for radiant heating by PTC radiant patches. A radiant heating system for warming an occupant of an enclosed space includes patches to radiate heat into the enclosed space toward the occupant. A power supply supplies electric power to the patches. A controller controls the electric power supplied to the patches based on a temperature in the enclosed space and locations of the patches within the enclosed space.
Abstract:
A head-up display for a vehicle. The head-up display comprises a picture generating unit configured to project an image onto a glass surface and an optical stack. The optical stack comprises an infrared reflective waveplate and a dual brightness enhancement film. The infrared reflective waveplate transforms an incoming solar light beam from unpolarized light to incoming polarized light having an incoming S-polarization component and an incoming P-polarization component. The dual brightness enhancement film receives the incoming polarized light from the infrared reflective waveplate and eliminates substantially all of the incoming P-polarization component. The dual brightness enhancement film transmits substantially all of the incoming S-polarization component.
Abstract:
A glass panel apparatus is provided. The glass panel apparatus includes an outer glass pane comprising a low-e coating on a side facing the inner glass pane, an inner glass pane comprising a low-e coating on a side facing the outer glass pane, a gap between the inner glass pane and the outer glass pane, the gap comprising a vacuum, and a heating element configured to heat the inner glass pane.
Abstract:
A method for damage detection and location using acoustic emission includes receiving, via a processor, an acoustic feedback signal from a plurality of sensors embedded in a body panel of a vehicle. The processor identifies a body panel breach and a location of the body panel breach indicative of damage on the body panel. The processor identifies the body panel breach based on the acoustic feedback signal from the plurality of sensors.
Abstract:
An air-delivery system, for use in a vehicle. The system includes a backrest of a vehicle seat assembly and an air-delivery port connected to or integral to the backrest. The system also includes an input conduit connected to the air-delivery port for delivering air received from an air source to the air-delivery port. The air-delivery port is configured and arranged in the backrest facing a generally aft direction to, during operation of the system, deliver air received from the air source aftward from the backrest.
Abstract:
A portable device recharging system includes a base unit generating an electromagnetic field. A portable device includes a rechargeable battery inductively charged by the electromagnetic field. Spacers are disposed between the portable device and the base unit. The spacers support the portable device and maintain an air gap between the base unit and the portable device.
Abstract:
A solar loading-based system includes a memory, a disturbance prediction module, a cabin temperature estimation module and a thermal control module. The memory stores a cabin thermal load model of an interior cabin of a host vehicle and a solar load prediction model. The disturbance prediction module: receives signals indicative of states of cabin thermal actuators and comfort metrics; and predicts an effect of solar loading over a known portion of a predicted route including predicting cabin temperatures based on the solar load prediction model, the states of the cabin thermal actuators, and the comfort metrics. The cabin temperature estimation module, based on the cabin thermal load model, determines a first comfort metric based on the predicted cabin temperatures. The thermal control module controls cabin thermal actuators to adjust cabin states, including the first comfort metric, to respective target values based on the predicted effect of solar loading.