A computer is programmed to modify an electrical property to adjust an opacity of a sensor cover window. The computer is programmed to actuate an excitation source to emit electro-magnetic beams toward the cover window.

A control system for a heating system of an exhaust system is provided. The control system includes at least one electric heater disposed within an exhaust fluid flow pathway, and a control device adapted to receive at least one input selected from the group consisting of mass flow rate of an exhaust fluid flow, mass velocity of an exhaust fluid flow, flow temperature upstream of the at least one electric heater, flow temperature downstream of the at least one electric heater, power input to the at least one electric heater, parameters derived from physical characteristics of the heating system, and combinations thereof. The control device is operable to modulate power to the at least one electric heater based on at least one input.

A method of predicting temperature of at least one location in a fluid flow system that has a heating system for heating fluid. The method includes obtaining a mass flow rate of fluid flow of the fluid flow system, obtaining at least one of a fluid outlet temperature and a fluid inlet temperature of a heater of the heating system, obtaining power provided to the heater, and calculating temperature at the at least one location based on a model of the fluid flow system and the obtained mass flow rate, fluid outlet temperature, and fluid inlet temperature.

A susceptor for use in a heated fluid flow system is provided. In one form, a susceptor is arranged within a conduit and adapted to absorb radiant energy from at least one heating element and inhibit the radiant energy from being absorbed by the at least one wall of the conduit and/or other components. In another form, the susceptor absorbs and inhibits the radiant energy from being absorbed by the outer wall of the conduit.

The lens hood used in combination with a camera on a back face of a windshield has a bottom wall spaced below the windshield and having an upper face turned toward the windshield, and a flat heating element carried on the upper face of the bottom wall. The surface of the bottom wall of the lens hood facing the windshield has a scattered light-capturing structure, and the surface of the heating element, as part of the bottom wall, at least partially forms this structure. The heating element is embedded in the bottom wall of the lens hood, so that the heating element completely or at least partially forms the upper face of the bottom wall.

An electrostatic steering wheel hold detection device includes: a first heater element located in a steering wheel, and has one end electrically connected to a power source; an inductorthat is electrically connected to an other end of the first heater element; a second heater element that is included in the steering wheel, and has one end electrically connected to the other end of the first heater element via the inductor; and a sensor circuit that is electrically connected to a connection point between the first heater element and the inductor, and detects, from a change in capacitance at the connection point, whether or not the steering wheel is held. An other end of the second heater element is electrically connected to a ground. The second heater element is located lower than the first heater element in the steering wheel when the steering wheel is in a neutral position.

A glow plug including a heater (200) having a rear heat-generating element (260) formed of a resistance heat-generating element, and provided in an axial region thereof between a forward end (136) of a housing and a rear end (315) of a displacement member (300) located rearward of the forward end (136). The heat-generating element (260) is arranged separately from a forward heat-generating element (205) provided at a forward end portion of the heater.

A control system for use in a fluid flow application includes a heater and a control device. The heater has at least one resistive heating element and the heater is operable to heat fluid. The control device determines at least one flow characteristic of a fluid flow based on a heat loss of the at least one resistive heating element and determines a mass flow rate of the fluid based on the at least one flow characteristic and a property of the at least one resistive heating element. And the property of the at least one resistive heating element includes a change in resistance of the at least one resistive heating element under a given heat flux density.

An exhaust system is provided that includes an exhaust aftertreatment unit, first and second exhaust pathway in communication with and upstream of the exhaust aftertreatment unit, a thermally activated flow control device operable in a first and second mode, and a thermal storage device. In the first mode, the flow control device permits exhaust to flow to the aftertreatment unit through the first pathway and inhibits flow through the second pathway. In the second mode, the flow control device permits exhaust flow to the aftertreatment unit through the second pathway and inhibits flow through the first pathway. The flow control device may switch between the first and second modes based on a change of temperature. The thermal storage device is within the second pathway, stores thermal mass, and provides thermal insulation to enable a catalyst of the aftertreatment unit to maintain a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time.

Methods and systems for predicting at least one temperature along a fluid flow path of a fluid flow system having a heater disposed in the fluid flow path are provided. In one example, a method includes: obtaining at least one input, wherein the at least one input includes a setpoint, a mass flow rate, an inlet temperature, or a combination thereof; calculating a temperature associated with the heater based on a predefined model and the at least one input; and setting a value of the at least one temperature along the fluid flow path to the temperature of the heater.