FLOW CONTROL FOR MULTIPLE STACKS
Granted: September 25, 2008
Application Number:
20080233461
A fuel cell comprises an electrode plate having a flow field formed therein and a proton exchange membrane. A compressible permeable diffusion media is disposed adjacent the electrode plate. The diffusion media is compressed against the electrode plate so that a portion of the media intrudes into the flow field. A fuel cell stack can be made by compressing a plurality these fuel cells together. The fuel cell stack is compressed so that the diffusion media in each fuel cell is compressed…
DIFFUSION MEDIA TAILORED TO ACCOUNT FOR VARIATIONS IN OPERATING HUMIDITY AND DEVICES INCORPORATING THE SAME
Granted: September 25, 2008
Application Number:
20080233436
A diffusion media and a scheme for tailoring the parameters of the diffusion media are provided for addressing issues related to water management in electrochemical cells and other devices employing the diffusion media. Various parameters of the diffusion media are tailored to the specific operational humidity of the fuel cell.
APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE REMAINING USEFUL LIFE OF A TRANSMISSION FILTER
Granted: September 18, 2008
Application Number:
20080224838
A vehicle has a transmission, a transmission filter, and a controller having an algorithm or method for predicting the remaining useful life of the filter. The algorithm or method uses a sensor to detect an operating event of the transmission, such as a completed shift event or zero transmission output speed event, and increases a stored value of an accumulated distance and time variable. A shift sensor is operable for comparing a detected speed ratio of the transmission to a stored…
Apparatus and Method for Determining Remaining Transmission Oil Life
Granted: September 18, 2008
Application Number:
20080228339
An improved method for predicting the remaining useful life of transmission oil and an apparatus for practicing the same are provided. The method includes: detecting if the transmission has completed a new shift; if yes, determining a total shift count; determining accumulated distance and accumulated time parameters; determining a transmission temperature degradation factor; detecting if the lockup clutch is open and if the transmission is in range; if yes, determining a converter…
Apparatus and Method for Predicting the Health of a Power Transmission
Granted: September 18, 2008
Application Number:
20080228340
An improved method for predicting the health of a power transmission and an apparatus for practicing the same are provided. The method includes: monitoring a total number of converged shifts after a first shift has converged; determining if the total number of converged shifts is greater then a calibrated number of completed converged shifts; if yes, determining an initial clutch volume, an initial free running clearance, a free running clearance, and a free running clearance per face…
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ENABLING A DEVICE FUNCTION OF A VEHICLE
Granted: September 4, 2008
Application Number:
20080215336
The current invention provides a method and system for enabling a device function of a vehicle. A speech input stream is received at a telematics unit. A speech input context is determined for the received speech input stream. The received speech input stream is processed based on the determination and the device function of the vehicle is enabled responsive to the processed speech input stream. A vehicle device in control of the enabled device function of the vehicle is directed based…
HOOD ASSEMBLY UTILIZING ACTIVE MATERIALS BASED MECHANISMS
Granted: August 21, 2008
Application Number:
20080197674
An active material hood impact mitigation mechanism is activated in response to a signal generated from an impact sensor or pre-impact sensor or manually. The mitigation mechanism is capable of changing either reversibly or irreversibly the stiffness, shape, location, orientation, or displacement force of the hood either globally or locally, before an impact against the hood. The active material mitigation mechanism is held in a device designed to be installed in operative communication…
REVERSIBLY DEPLOYABLE ENERGY ABSORBING ASSEMBLY AND METHODS FOR OPERATING THE SAME
Granted: August 14, 2008
Application Number:
20080191454
A reversibly deployable energy absorbing assembly includes a rigid support structure having at least one inlet and at least one outlet; a flexible covering sealingly engaged with the rigid support structure to define an inflatable interior region; a gas source in fluid communication with the at least one inlet; an inlet control valve positioned intermediate the gas source and the at least one inlet; and an actively controlled pressure relief valve in fluid communication with the at least…
Adaptive Retarder Control Method and Apparatus
Granted: July 17, 2008
Application Number:
20080172162
A vehicle transmission retarder control apparatus is provided including an engine, a throttle, a brake, a transmission having an output member with an actual transmission output speed, a speed sensor operable for measuring the actual transmission output speed, a plurality of user-commandable input devices for selecting a desired transmission output speed, and a controller having an algorithm for controlling the amount of retarder request to provide a zero or constant rate of deceleration…
AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM
Granted: July 10, 2008
Application Number:
20080167161
A system for braking a vehicle includes a transmission having a plurality of gear sets for establishing a plurality of forward and reverse gear ratios and an actuator for changing the gear ratios. The system also includes a plurality of sensors for detecting a plurality of vehicle operating parameters and an auxiliary brake for reducing a speed of the vehicle. A controller having a processor configured to receive a plurality of output signals from the plurality of sensors has control…
METHOD OF DETECTING AND PREVENTING TIE-UP DURING A DOUBLE TRANSITION UP-SHIFT
Granted: July 3, 2008
Application Number:
20080161159
A method of detecting and preventing tie-up during a double transition shift of an automatically shiftable transmission operatively connected with an engine is provided. The method includes. A) shifting the automatically shiftable transmission from an initial speed ratio to an intermediate speed ratio; B) commanding the automatically shiftable transmission to shift from the intermediate speed ratio to a final speed ratio; D) determining if the automatically shiftable transmission has…
PACKAGED TOURS WITH TURN-BY-TURN NAVIGATION
Granted: July 3, 2008
Application Number:
20080162042
An improved guidance system and method provide a packaged tour object having tour directions and media related to points of interest of a tour for playing via a telematics unit. A user is provided, via their telematics unit, with specific directions to access points of interest of the tour in a certain sequence, while the telematics unit optionally conveys media content to the user at appropriate points. The media content may be keyed to an upcoming site, and may comprise audio and/or…
VEHICLE DIAGNOSTIC INTERFACE MECHANISM
Granted: July 3, 2008
Application Number:
20080161988
In examples of the invention, a vehicle diagnostics update mechanism provides a frequent connection to a vehicle telematics unit. In this way, large amounts of vehicle data that are available when the vehicle is on or cached, i.e., when the vehicle is off, can be pulled and used to provide a vehicle update to the user. In one example, a “vehicle dashboard” application running on a vehicle owner's computer in the form of a tool bar provides diagnostics updates in a quick and easy to…
Method For Protecting An Exhaust Aftertreatment System
Granted: June 26, 2008
Application Number:
20080148710
The method of the present invention is adapted to protect an exhaust aftertreatment system by preventing the system from becoming clogged and/or damaged during periods of light engine load. According to a preferred embodiment, the present invention protects the exhaust aftertreatment system by increasing the load on the engine during periods of light engine load and/or low exhaust temperature.
Vehicle Emergency Communication Mode Method and Apparatus
Granted: June 19, 2008
Application Number:
20080143497
A method and apparatus controls a communication mode of a mobile unit. Steps include detecting in the mobile unit an emergency signal; commencing a process of establishing communication from the mobile unit to a remote center in response to the detected emergency signal; providing an input prompt to a vehicle operator during the process of establishing communication with the remote center, wherein the input prompt requests response from the vehicle operator indicative of a status of…
Method for Detecting Compressor Surge in a Fuel Cell System Using a Mass Flow Meter
Granted: June 19, 2008
Application Number:
20080145728
A method for detecting compressor surge in a fuel cell system. The system includes a turbomachine compressor that delivers charge air to the cathode side of a fuel cell module. A bi-directional mass flow meter measures the airflow through the compressor, and provides an indication of a reverse airflow through the compressor for surge protection. A controller receives a signal from the mass flow meter indicative of the reverse flow. The controller controls a motor driving the compressor…
DYNAMIC PRL ASSIGNMENT SYSTEM
Granted: June 19, 2008
Application Number:
20080146202
A system for selectively providing an updated PRL to a remote wireless device reduces airtime requirements by determining the PRL to be loaded based on a collection of information relating to the wireless device. Depending upon the nature, connectivity and location of the device, the system loads a partial or full PRL, and may in certain circumstances decline to load any PRL, instead flagging the existing PRL as out-of-date.
SATELLITE RADIO FILE BROADCAST METHOD
Granted: June 19, 2008
Application Number:
20080146219
A method and system for distributing files to remote receiving units such as passenger vehicles. The method includes the steps of (a) creating a file broadcast schedule that identifies a plurality of files and that includes scheduling information indicating when the files will be transmitted, (b) sending the file broadcast schedule to a number of remote receiving units via wireless transmission, (c) analyzing the file broadcast schedule at one or more of the remote receiving units by…
CONFIGURABLE VEHICLE BUS STORAGE CACHE MECHANISM
Granted: June 19, 2008
Application Number:
20080147250
A remotely configurable telematics unit cache provides for selective caching of data of interest to a remote caller. The configurable caching system ensures that selected data is available when the vehicle is not in operation and the telematics unit is not powered on. A remote caller can remotely configure the telematics unit cache to selectively store data of interest. Subsequently, the telematics module can accept calls from the caller and the cached information can be pulled. Thus,…
METHOD FOR MANIPULATING THE CONTENTS OF AN XML-BASED MESSAGE
Granted: June 19, 2008
Application Number:
20080147692
A method for manipulating some of the contents of an XML file in order to standardize and optimize its user-defined portions without breaking the XML syntax. More specifically, the manipulation method can standardize various user-defined terms developed by different authors, thus producing XML-based messages utilizing a more consistent and familiar set of terms. At the same time, the manipulation method optimizes the user-defined terms in a manner that reduces the amount of data…
