| DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES, INC. Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
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| 20120130572 | VEHICLE DECELERATION RATE CONTROL DURING DECELERATION FUEL CUTOFF BY VARYING GENERATION ELECTRIC LOAD - A vehicle control system for controlling a vehicle deceleration rate that includes a dynamo (e.g. generator/motor) coupled to the vehicle to provide a dynamo deceleration force to the vehicle corresponding to an electric load, an internal combustion engine coupled the vehicle to provide an engine deceleration force to the vehicle corresponding to a throttle position, and a controller coupled to the internal combustion engine and the dynamo. The controller is configured determine a deceleration fuel cutoff (DFCO) request based on an accelerator pedal position, and when a DFCO request is determined increase the throttle position to decrease the engine deceleration force, and increase the electric load on the dynamo to increase the dynamo deceleration force, to control the vehicle deceleration rate. | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120129378 | BATTERY CHARGER HAVING HANDLE THAT INCLUDES LIGHT SOURCE THAT EMITS LIGHT THROUGH APERTURE IN HANDLE CONNECTOR - An electric vehicle charge coupler for both mechanically and electrically coupling and decoupling a charger to a vehicle includes a handle. The handle includes a handle connector configured for manually coupling and decoupling the handle with an inlet connector disposed on the vehicle. The handle connector further defines an aperture. The handle also includes a light source configured for activation to emit light. When the light source is activated, light emits from the light source and passes through the aperture to illuminate an area directionally out from the aperture away from the handle connector. | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120126747 | BATTERY CHARGER HAVING NON-CONTACT ELECTRICAL SWITCH - The handle of a charge coupler includes a mechanical latch that securely mechanically locks the handle to the vehicle passively when the handle is manually attached to the vehicle by a human operator to create an electrical connection between the vehicle and the charger. The handle also has an actuator movable by the operator from a deactivated state to a first and a second position activated state. The mechanical latch operates independently of the state of the actuator when the handle is being manually attached but being mechanically released by the actuator when it is moved to its second activated state. A non-contact electrical switch means associated with the actuator breaks the electrical connection when the actuator is moved to the first position activated state before releasing the mechanical latch at said second activated position. | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120125292 | FUEL INJECTOR - A fuel injector for an internal combustion engine includes: an injector body of substantially elongate form and defining an injector body axis; an injector nozzle disposed at one end of the injector body; and a plurality of element connectors for providing fluid and/or electrical connection into and/or out of the fuel injector wherein at least some of the element connectors are arranged to be rotatable relative to one another about the injector body axis. | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120121995 | METHOD OF OPERATING A FUEL CELL SYSTEM ON LOW QUALITY BY-PRODUCT GASES - A method of operating a fuel cell system on a by-product gas containing a fuel constituent. The fuel cell system includes a fuel reformer for forming a reformate stream, a combustor for supplying heat energy to the fuel reformer, and a fuel cell stack. The method includes the steps of separating a by-product gas into a purified gas stream and a residual stream with a gaseous fuel purifier, feeding the purified gas stream to the fuel reformer configured to transform the purified gas stream to produce a reformate stream, and feeding the residual gas stream to a combustor configured to provide heat energy to the fuel reformer. The purified gas stream contains a higher concentration of preferable fuel constituents and a lower concentration of contaminants than the residual gas stream. | 05-17-2012 |
| 20120119759 | SELF DIAGNOSTICS OF A PARTICULATE MATTER SENSOR - A particulate matter sensor includes first and second electrodes spaced from each other with a bias resistor connected between the first and second electrodes. The particulate matter sensor allows an open circuit fault condition in the sensor or in the connectors or wiring to the sensor to be detected. A sensing system using the particulate matter sensor and a method for diagnosing faults in a sensing system are also provided. | 05-17-2012 |
| 20120117198 | SYSTEM AND METHOD TO RECAST INFORMATION COMMUNICATED BETWEEN A HOST SYSTEM AND A REMOTE INTERFACE - A communication system for recasting information communicated between a host system (smart phone, internet server) outputting an application generated signal, and a remote interface (in-vehicle display) so application content is displayed in a specified manner on the remote interface in accordance with a recast rule. The recast rules define how to interpret or analyze the application generated signal and recast content in that signal for output by the remote interface. The recast rules may be configured to detect control commands input by an operator, and in accordance with recast rules, generate a host control signal configured to operate some aspect of the host system. | 05-10-2012 |
| 20120106752 | LIGHTWEIGHT ELECTRONIC DEVICE FOR AUTOMOTIVE APPLICATIONS AND METHOD - A lightweight radio/CD player for vehicular application is virtually “fastenerless” and includes a case and frontal interface formed of polymer based material that is molded to provide details to accept audio devices such as playback mechanisms (if desired) and radio receivers, as well as the circuit boards required for electrical control and display. The case and frontal interface are of composite structure, including an insert molded electrically conductive wire mesh screen that has been pre-formed to contour with the molding operation. The wire mesh provides EMC, RFI, BCI and ESD shielding and grounding of the circuit boards via exposed wire mesh pads and adjacent ground clips. The major components and subassemblies self-interconnect by integral guide and connection features effecting “slide lock” and “snap lock” self-interconnection. The major components and subassemblies self-ground by establishing an interference fit with exposed, resilient, embossed portions of wire mesh. | 05-03-2012 |
| 20120105241 | WEIGHT BASED VEHICLE SEAT OCCUPANT DETECTION DEVICE WITH COMPENSATION FOR SEAT ORIENTATION ANGLE - A weight based occupant detection device that includes a weight sensing device installed in a vehicle seat in a manner effective to sense weight on a seating surface. The weight sensing device is configured to output a weight signal indicative of an occupant weight of a seat occupant residing on the vehicle seat. The occupant detection device also includes a seat orientation angle sensing device that is configured to output an orientation angle signal indicative of a seat orientation angle. The occupant detection device may also include an accelerometer for sensing vertical acceleration of the vehicle seat, and a seat backrest angle device for measuring the angle of the seat backrest. The occupant detection device compensates a signal from the weight sensing device for errors caused by seat orientation, seat vertical acceleration and seat backrest angle. | 05-03-2012 |
| 20120104812 | WEIGHT BASED VEHICLE SEAT OCCUPANT DETECTION DEVICE - A device configured to be installed in a vehicle seat for estimating an occupant weight. The device includes a bladder and a pressure sensor. The bladder is configured to define a cavity characterized as having a center of gravity. The bladder is effective to retain a fluid and pressurize the fluid in response to an occupant weight upon the bladder. The bladder is also configured to define an opening to the cavity. The pressure sensor is coupled directly to the opening in a manner effective to seal the opening and locate the pressure sensor proximate to the center of gravity. The pressure sensor provides a pressure signal indicative of the occupant weight. | 05-03-2012 |
| 20120103942 | METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A TUBULAR FRAME STRUCTURE WITH STAND ALONE NODE - A method of making a structural connection in a metallic tubular assembly is provided. It comprises providing a node having at least two legs and forming a radially extending rib extending from an exterior surface of each of the legs by deforming a corresponding interior portion of each of the legs. At least one tube is provided having a radially extending flange adjacent an open end. The tube is placed over the exterior surface of one of the legs abuts the radially extending flange and the radially extending rib. By applying opposing forces to one of the legs and one tube to hold the radially extending flange and the radially extending rib in abutting contact at a joint, resistance welding can take place at the joint when at least one electrode is applied to the joint. | 05-03-2012 |
| 20120097135 | EVAPORATIVE EMISSION DEVICE TO MOTOR VEHICLE COUPLING - A coupling is provided for attaching an evaporative emission device having a housing to a mounting surface of a motor vehicle. The coupling includes a pair of tracks fixed the mounting surface and a pair of matching rails fixed to the housing. The rails are sized to slide within the tracks until reaching a predetermined seated position within the rails. An aperture is fixed to the mounting surface and includes a shoulder with a manufacturing tolerance defined about a nominal location at the predetermined seated position. A resilient latch is formed on the housing and located so as to snap into the aperture at the predetermined seated position. The latch includes a inclined engaging surface to engage the shoulder over the entire tolerance range of the shoulder. | 04-26-2012 |
| 20120097122 | AXIALLY COMPACT CAMSHAFT PHASER - A camshaft phaser is provided for varying the phase relationship between a crankshaft and a camshaft in an internal combustion engine. The camshaft phaser includes a stator having a plurality of lobes. A rotor is disposed within the stator and includes a plurality of vanes interspersed with the stator lobes to define alternating advance and retard chambers. A bushing adaptor of the camshaft phaser is disposable axially within a pocket of the camshaft and is disposed axially within the rotor. The bushing adaptor defines at least in part a supply passage for communicating pressurized oil from the internal combustion engine to a control valve, an advance passage for selectively communicating pressurized oil from the control valve to the advance chambers, and a retard passage for selectively communicating pressurized oil from the control valve to the retard chambers. | 04-26-2012 |
| 20120094205 | COMPLIANT GLASS SEAL FOR FUEL CELL STACK - A solid oxide fuel cell stack having a plurality of cassettes and a compliant glass seal disposed between the sealing surfaces of adjacent cassettes, thereby joining the cassettes and providing a hermetic seal therebetween. The compliant glass seal may include a glass, at least one metal selected from Groups 9, 10, and 11 of the periodic table, and fibers of yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) to enhance the desirable properties of the compliant glass seal. The combined weight percentage of the at least one metal and YSZ in the compliant glass seal is 30 to 42.5 weight percent, preferably 37.5 percent. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120094201 | FUEL CELL WITH INTERNAL FLOW CONTROL - A fuel cell stack is provided with a plurality of fuel cell cassettes where each fuel cell cassette has a fuel cell with an anode and cathode. The fuel cell stack includes an anode supply chimney for supplying fuel to the anode of each fuel cell cassette, an anode return chimney for removing anode exhaust from the anode of each fuel cell cassette, a cathode supply chimney for supplying oxidant to the cathode of each fuel cell cassette, and a cathode return chimney for removing cathode exhaust from the cathode of each fuel cell cassette. A first fuel cell cassette includes a flow control member disposed between the anode supply chimney and the anode return chimney or between the cathode supply chimney and the cathode return chimney such that the flow control member provides a flow restriction different from at least one other fuel cell cassettes. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120085040 | LOW PROFILE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION SYSTEM - An electrical connection system is presented that is especially suited for use with a solar shingle application disposed on a rooftop of a building structure. The electrical connection system, when underlying roof shingles disposed on the rooftop, has a low profile that prevents an undesired buckled visual appearance from occurring to the roof shingles over a service life of the roof shingles. The electrical connection system has a thickness that is about a diameter thickness of at least one wire conductor that attaches with at least one connector body of the electrical connection system. The electrical connection system further includes at least one latch mechanism, that when sufficiently engaged against by a tool, allows a plug connector body to unmate from a socket connector body or a shunt socket connector body. A method to construct the at least one connector of the electrical connection system is also presented. | 04-12-2012 |
| 20120082920 | CO-FIRED METAL INTERCONNECT SUPPORTED SOFC - A method of making a planar solid oxide fuel cell is described involving:
| 04-05-2012 |
| 20120067982 | FUEL INJECTOR - A fuel injector that includes a sliding armature, decoupled armature, or flying armature movable between a pintle stop and a housing stop. Flying armatures are generally used to increase the total force applied to the pintle stop for lifting the pintle off a nozzle seat to open the fuel injector. When the fuel injector is turned off, a housing stop is arranged to absorb kinetic energy present in the flying armature so that the kinetic energy is not imparted to the nozzle seat. | 03-22-2012 |
| 20120062999 | DUAL VIEW DISPLAY SYSTEM - A dual view display system that displays two different images in different directions using a single display device. The dual view display includes a first optical element overlaying a first portion of the pixels and configured to direct light emitted from the first portion of the pixels toward a first direction, a second optical element overlaying a second portion of the pixels and configured to direct light emitted from the second portion of the pixels toward a second direction distinct from the first direction, and an optical barrier arranged between the first optical element and the second optical element effective to prevent light from propagating therebetween. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120056758 | VEHICLE PARKING SPOT LOCATOR SYSTEM AND METHOD USING CONNECTED VEHICLES - A vehicle parking spot locator system and method are provided. The system includes a database storing data pertaining to the parking spot locations including available parking spot locations, and a communication link for communicating with a vehicle and other sources. The communication link receives parking spot location information including information pertaining to availability of parking spot locations and further provides vehicles with parking spot location information to assist in locating a parking spot location. The system further includes a processor for processing the stored data in the database and providing parking spot location information to vehicles. The processor is configured to predict which open parking spot is closest to a desired destination and will be available when the vehicle arrives at the desired destination. | 03-08-2012 |
| 20120055195 | Internal Heat Exchanger Assembly Having an Internal Bleed Valve Assembly - An internal heat exchanger assembly for an air conditioning system, having a substantial cylindrical cavity in which a helical coil tube is coaxially disposed within the cylindrical cavity. A bleed valve assembly is incorporated into the helical coiled tube, in which the bleed valve assembly is adapted to open at a predetermined differential pressure between the high pressure side and low pressure side of the internal heat exchanger. The bleed valve selectively bleeds refrigerant from the high pressure side to the low pressure side, thereby increasing the pressure and mass flow rate of the refrigerant to the suction side of a compressor to reduce or eliminate compressor rattle. | 03-08-2012 |
| 20120045672 | VENTED BATTERY PACK - A lithium battery includes a lithium cell package disposed within an enclosure having means to route gases vented from the package in a controlled fashion. A plurality of enclosures may be stacked, defining a vent conduit for collecting and routing gases vented from any of the plurality of enclosures. Means for interfacing a gas conveyance means to the vent conduit are provided. In a further aspect, the enclosure may include features to control the location in the cell package at which vented gases are released. | 02-23-2012 |
| 20120033078 | HANDLING ASSISTANT APPARATUS FOR TWO-BODY CONNECTED VEHICLE - A handling assistant apparatus for two-body connected vehicle is disclosed. The apparatus is applied to a two-body connected vehicle including a tractor and a trailer, the tractor and the trailer having different turn radius. A static signal acquisition means acquires static signals of the tractor and the trailer. A moving orientation signal acquisition means acquires moving orientation signals of the tractor and the trailer. A video signal acquisition means acquires original video signals. An angle acquisition means is mounted at the joint point of the tractor and the trailer and acquires an angle signal between the moving orientations of the tractor and the trailer. A dynamic signal generation means generates dynamic signals of the tractor and the trailer based on the original video signals, the static signals, the moving orientation signals and the angle signal. The dynamic signal reflects a prediction of the moving orientation and a position of the tractor and the trailer. A dynamic signal presentation means presents the dynamic signal. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120032872 | DUAL VIEW DISPLAY SYSTEM - A dual view display system that displays two different images in different directions using a single display device to alternately time-multiplex the images and two shutter devices operated in coordination with the time-multiplexing to alternately allow or block viewing of the alternating images. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120031359 | CAMSHAFT PHASER INTERMEDIATE LOCKING PIN AND SEAT - A vane-type camshaft phaser for an internal combustion engine includes an intermediate locking pin and seat for locking the camshaft phaser at a position intermediate of its full advanced and retard positions. A feature is provided for radially orienting the locking pin with the seat. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120024508 | REINFORCEMENT PLATE FOR MULTIPLE ROW HEAT EXCHANGER - A heat exchanger includes a pair of manifolds each extending between manifold ends and defining a plurality of slits disposed in a plurality of parallel slit rows and each slit having a center axis. The center axes of the slits in each of the slit rows are aligned in a row plane. Reinforcement members extend between reinforcement ends each of which have at least one tab for connection thereof to one of the manifold ends. Each of the manifolds has at least one retainer for clamping one of the reinforcement members thereto. Each of the tabs include at least one connector extending toward the adjacent manifold end. One of the connectors is centered on each of the row planes to define row isolating openings between adjacent connectors to isolate each of the row planes from differential forces of adjacent row planes. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120024247 | HARMONIC DRIVE CAMSHAFT PHASER WITH PHASE AUTHORITY STOPS - A camshaft phaser includes a housing with a harmonic gear drive unit disposed therein. The harmonic gear drive unit includes a circular spline and a dynamic spline, a flexspline disposed radially within the circular spline and the dynamic spline, a wave generator disposed radially within the flexspline, and a rotational actuator connectable to the wave generator. One of the circular spline and the dynamic spline is fixed to the housing. A hub is rotatably disposed radially within the housing and attachable to the camshaft and fixed to the other of the circular spline and the dynamic spline. A first arcuate input stop member is rotatable with one of the circular spline and the dynamic spline and is received within a first arcuate output opening defined by at least a first arcuate output stop member rotatable with the other of the circular spline and the dynamic spline. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120024094 | ZERO BACKLASH GEARING - Each generic gear includes one tooth disposed in each of the sockets, and each tooth extends radially outward from one of the sockets and throat thereof. The teeth of the generic gear include resilient material adjacent the throat for compressing and allowing movement of each tooth relative to the outer periphery. In the species of FIG. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120020102 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USING FLUORESCENT MATERIAL TO DISPLAY INFORMATION ON A VEHICLE WINDOW - A system to selectively display a symbol at a location on a vehicle window. The system includes an arrangement of a fluorescent material at the location, wherein the fluorescent material: a) is sufficiently transparent in the absence of ultraviolet (UV) light, b) fluoresces when illuminated with UV light, c) and has a shape corresponding to the symbol, and a UV light source configured to illuminate the location with UV light to display the symbol. Such a system may use unfocused UV light sources to illuminate the symbol shaped fluorescent material as opposed to focused UV light sources such as UV lasers. | 01-26-2012 |
| 20120019781 | MULTIPLE VIEW DISPLAY SYSTEM USING A SINGLE PROJECTOR AND METHOD OF OPERATING THE SAME - A system and method to display a plurality of different images at multiple distinct locations using a single image projector and an image propagation control means to control a propagation pathway from the projector to a display at each location. | 01-26-2012 |
| 20120019434 | DUAL VIEW DISPLAY SYSTEM USING A TRANSPARENT DISPLAY - A dual view display system to display two different images in substantially opposite direction using a single transparent display to time-multiplex the images and shutter devices to alternately block each side from being viewed according to the image being displayed. | 01-26-2012 |
| 20120013742 | VISION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISPLAYING A FIELD OF VIEW DEPENDENT UPON DETECTING AN OBJECT - A vision system in a vehicle and a method for operating the system. The system displays a field of view that is a portion of an image of an area proximate to the vehicle. The system includes an object detection means that provides an indication of an object being present in the area proximate to the vehicle. The field of view is selected at least in part based on the detection of the object, such as directing the field of view toward the object so the vehicle driver can more easily discern the presence of the object in a display. | 01-19-2012 |
| 20120013297 | POWER CHARGING ASSEMBLY AND METHOD THAT INCLUDES A LOW VOLTAGE ELECTRICAL DEVICE OPERABLE WITH PULSE WIDTH MODULATION (PWM) CONTROL - A power charging assembly and methods are provided to provide a pre-charge low-current state, a steady-state, high-current charging state, and an unconnect state for an electrical load of an electrical propulsion system in a hybrid electrical vehicle (HEV). The power charging assembly includes a positive contactor device, a negative contactor device, and a non-contactor device means. The rate at which that electrical load is pre-charged may be effectively controlled by using a pulse-width modulated (PWM) signal received by the non-contactor device means. A current-only carrying positive or negative contactor may be configured with the non-contactor device means to further prevent electrical arcing of the contacts of the positive and the negative contactor during power charging assembly operation. | 01-19-2012 |
| 20120012773 | PRESSURE CONTROL VALVE - A valve assembly includes a housing with a supply port receiving working fluid from a working fluid source, a control port connected to a working device, and a vent port for returning working fluid to the working fluid source. A spool with a spool bore in fluid communication with the control port controls the flow of working fluid between the supply port and the control port and between the control port and the vent port. An actuator assembly selectively alters the position of the spool. In a high pressure mode, the supply port is in fluid communication with the spool bore at a first pressure. In a pressure relief mode, the vent port is in fluid communication with the spool bore. In a pressure regulating mode, the supply port is in fluid communication with the spool bore at a second pressure which is less than the first pressure. | 01-19-2012 |
| 20120007378 | ROOF MODULE WITH STORAGE ASSEMBLY - An overhead console for a vehicle interior, comprising a storage module provided with a housing having an aperture, a cover pivotally mounted on the housing, a receptacle is pivotally mounted to the cover between a folded position and an unfolded position. The storage module can be set in a storage configuration, cover closed and receptacle folded inside the housing, or in a deployed configuration, cover open and receptacle unfolded allowing the user to easily grab an object stored in the receptacle. The storage configuration requires minimal height in the overhead module and the deployed configuration provides maximum accessibility. | 01-12-2012 |
| 20120005393 | ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC SYSTEM HAVING AN ELECTRICAL CENTER FOR A VEHICLE - An electrical and electronic system having a control unit connected to a remotely located electrical center by way of a data bus. The electrical center includes a bus interface unit and a main printed circuit board having a plurality of control devices such as relays, which selectively activate vehicle electrical circuits based on instructions from the control unit. The bus interface unit is that of a daughter board configured to be plugged into the main board of the electrical center, such as a Local Interconnect Network (LIN) interface board, and the data bus may be a LIN bus. | 01-05-2012 |
| 20120003868 | ELECTRICAL CONNECTION SYSTEM THAT ABSORBS MULTI-CONNECTOR POSITIONAL MATING TOLERENCE VARIATION - A ganged electrical connection system includes an arrangement defining a plurality of receptacles. A plurality of first connectors is receivably coupled in the plurality of receptacles. A plurality of second connectors is matable to the plurality of coupled first connectors of the arrangement along mating axes. Positional mating tolerance variation associated with the plurality of second connectors in relation to the plurality of coupled first connectors manifested at the plurality of receptacles when the plurality of second connectors are mated to the plurality of coupled first connectors is absorbed by the arrangement. The plurality of the plurality of second connectors mate with the plurality of coupled first connectors in a single unimpeded, uninterrupted mating connection. A ganged electrical system for an electric-type vehicle is also presented. | 01-05-2012 |
| 20120001319 | FLUID COOLED ENCAPSULATED MICROELECTRONIC PACKAGE - An encapsulated microelectronic package includes a fluid conducting cooling tube directly coupled to one or more semiconductor chips, with the encapsulant being molded over the semiconductor chips and portions of the cooling tube in proximity to the semiconductor chips. The encapsulant immobilizes the cooling tube with respect to the semiconductor chips, and the cooling tube and encapsulant are designed to minimize differences in their coefficients of thermal expansion relative to the semiconductor chips. | 01-05-2012 |
| 20110320104 | ENGINE COMBUSTION CONTROL USING IGNITION DWELL - An engine control system, a controller for the engine control system, and a method of controlling a combustion process in an internal combustion engine operating at an engine operating condition. The engine control is based on closed-loop control of ignition dwell. Ignition dwell is defined as time or crank angle difference between an end of fuel injection (EOI), or some other aspect of an injection control signal, and a start of combustion (SOC), or some other aspect of an internal combustion event. One or more engine control devices, such as a fuel injector or an exhaust gas recirculation valve may be varied to control ignition dwell. By providing such a closed-loop engine control based on ignition dwell, the air/fuel charge mixture, and/or stratification present in the combustion chamber at the moment combustion starts may be controlled. Advanced combustion systems utilizing premixed compression ignition (PCI) offer the benefit of low temperature combustion for simultaneous low NOx and particulate emissions with high fuel economy. Combustion control based on ignition dwell can be used to optimize engine emissions and fuel consumption for PCI over the operating range. | 12-29-2011 |
| 20110315795 | Fuel Injector - A fuel injector that includes a flying armature movable relative to a pintle stop, and an electromagnetic circuit configured to move the flying armature away from the pintle stop prior to accelerating the armature toward the pintle stop as part of moving the pintle to open the fuel injector. The flying armature increases the total force applied to the pintle to open the fuel injector by supplementing the static force imparted to the armature by a magnetic field with an impact force imparted by the armature being in motion toward and impacting with the pintle stop. The arrangement of magnetic circuit devices and materials used to make the magnetic circuit devices cooperate to provide a reversing force that urges the armature away from before urging the armature toward the pintle stop, and increases the rate at which the force that urges the armature toward the pintle stop increases. | 12-29-2011 |
| 20110315102 | HARMONIC DRIVE CAMSHAFT PHASER AND METHOD FOR USING - A camshaft phaser includes a housing with a harmonic gear drive unit disposed therein. The harmonic gear drive unit includes a circular spline and a dynamic spline, a flexspline disposed radially within the circular spline and the dynamic spline, a wave generator disposed radially within the flexspline, and a rotational actuator connectable to the wave generator. One of the circular spline and the dynamic spline is fixed to the housing. A hub is rotatably disposed radially within the housing and attachable to the camshaft and fixed to the other of the circular spline and the dynamic spline. An anti-rotation means is provided for temporarily fixing the circular spline to the dynamic spline in order to prevent relative rotation therebetween when the hub is being attached to the camshaft. The anti-rotation means prevents damage to the harmonic gear drive unit while the camshaft phaser is being installed onto the camshaft. | 12-29-2011 |
| 20110309924 | VEHICLE DISPLAY - A method of displaying information to a person viewing a configurable display in a vehicle. The method displays one of a plurality of page formats at a time. Each page format includes one or more images, including a first image in a distinct region of the display. The first image is positioned in an upper region of the display when information conveyed by the first image originates from outside the vehicle, and the first image is positioned in a lower region of the display when information conveyed by the first image originates from within the vehicle. The arrangement of images and the organization of the page formats are configured to convey a mental model of the environment about the vehicle, and displaying multiple pages arranged in a hierarchical order to further convey a mental model of how information is arranged on the various pages is provided. | 12-22-2011 |
| 20110307176 | VEHICLE HANDLING ASSISTANT APPARATUS - A vehicle handling assistant apparatus is discloses, the vehicle handling assistant apparatus utilizes an environment acquisition means to acquire an environment signal and utilizes an environment presentation means to present the environment signal. The vehicle handling assistant apparatus also utilizes an obstacle detection means to detect an obstacle from the environment signal acquired by the environment acquisition means and output an obstacle signal. The obstacle detection means may be implemented by an infrared sensor, a radar sensor, an ultrasonic sensor or a camera. An obstacle region generation means generates an obstacle region signal from the environment signal based on the obstacle signal generated by the obstacle detection means. The obstacle region signal includes information about a position of the foot point line and a width of the obstacle region. An environment signal adjustment means adjusts the environment signal presented by the environment presentation means based on the obstacle region signal. | 12-15-2011 |
| 20110307148 | OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD HAVING HEATER ELEMENT ELECTRICAL ISOLATION - A system for determining an occupant proximate to a vehicle seat, a controller for use in the system, and a method for electrically isolating a heater element from an occupant detection electrode. When a heater element in a seat is coupled to a heater voltage source to generate heat, the heater element may influence an electric field generated by an occupant detection electrode in such a way as to interfere with determining an occupant proximate to the seat. Depending on the arrangement of the electrode and the heater element, such interference may be present at all times when the electrode is connected to the heater voltage source, or may only be problematic when the seat is wet with liquid moisture. By electrically isolating the heater element, the influence on the electric field may be reduced so the process of determining if an occupant is present in the seat is not interfered with. | 12-15-2011 |
| 20110307146 | SAFETY DETECTION APPARATUS FOR EXITING A VEHICLE - A safety detection apparatus for exiting a vehicle is disclosed, according to an embodiment, the safety detection apparatus utilizes a circumstance detecting means such as an infrared detector, a radar detector, or a video monitor to detect a moving object signal. A parameter determining means generates a relative position signal and a relative velocity signal of the moving object to the vehicle based on the moving object signal detected by the circumstance detecting means. A safety analyzing means obtains the relative position signal and the relative velocity signal of the moving object from the parameter determining means and generates an exiting safety level signal, the exiting safety level signal is determined based on the relative position signal and the relative velocity signal of the moving object, a distance threshold, and a velocity threshold. A safety controlling means obtains the exiting safety level signal from the safety analyzing means and outputs a control instruction corresponding to the exiting safety level. | 12-15-2011 |
| 20110304726 | ALL-AROUND PARKING ASSISTING SYSTEM - An all-around parking assisting system is disclosed according to the present disclosure. The system includes a set of image collecting apparatuses, a set of image pre-processing apparatuses, an image synthesis apparatus, an image correcting apparatus and a display apparatus. The set of image collecting apparatuses, positioned at the peripheral of a vehicle, is configured to collect a group of images relating to surroundings of the vehicle. Each image pre-processing apparatus in the set of image pre-processing apparatuses corresponds to one of the image collecting apparatuses and is configured to pre-process the image collected by the image collecting apparatus. The image synthesis apparatus may synthesize a group of pre-processed images and generate a continuous image relating to the surroundings of the vehicle. The image correcting apparatus is configured to adjust the proportion of the group of pre-processed images in the continuous image based on a correction parameter and generate a corrected continuous image. The display apparatus is coupled to the image synthesis apparatus and the image correcting apparatus. The display apparatus is configured to display the continuous image generated by the image synthesis apparatus or the corrected continuous image displayed by the image correcting apparatus. | 12-15-2011 |
| 20110299229 | ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTION CENTER - An electrical distribution center includes a housing composed of a first material having a first melting point, an electrical bus disposed in the housing, a removable electrical/electronic component electrically connected to the electrical bus and which produces a predetermined temperature in operation higher than the first melting point, an opening formed in the housing, and a socket mounted within the housing opening and physically supporting the electrical/electronic component. The socket is composed of a second, differing material having a second melting point higher than the predetermined temperature produced by the electrical/electronic component in operation, whereby the housing is effectively isolated and protected by the socket as the electrical/electronic component operates. | 12-08-2011 |
| 20110294311 | ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTION CENTER ASSEMBLY - An electrical distribution center assembly includes a housing having a connector shroud. The shroud defines a shroud cavity adapted for receiving a mating electrical connector body. A blade stabilizer is formed integral with the shroud in a first position within the shroud cavity. The blade stabilizer has blade apertures formed therein. Bladed terminals extend from the housing into the blade apertures. In this position, the blade stabilizer protects the terminal blades from being bent away from a terminal axis. The blade stabilizer is movable to a second position to enable female terminals of the mating electrical connector to electrically connect to the blade terminals. | 12-01-2011 |
| 20110290465 | ORIENTATION INSENSITIVE REFRIGERANT DISTRIBUTOR TUBE - A heat exchanger assembly having an inlet header, an outlet header spaced from the inlet header, a plurality of refrigerant tubes hydraulically connecting the inlet header with the outlet header. A distributor tube having a plurality of orifices disposed in the inlet header, wherein the orifices are arranged along the distributor tube such that at least one orifice is oriented in the liquid phase of the refrigerant pressed against the internal surface of the distributor tube regardless of orientation of the evaporator. The orifices may be arranged in a random order about the distributor tube, positioned in groups of at least two at predetermined locations, or spiraled along the distributor tube. | 12-01-2011 |
| 20110290010 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ESTIMATING BOUNCE BACK ANGLE OF A STOPPED ENGINE - An engine control system, controller, and method for estimating a bounce back angle of an internal combustion engine. Typical crank sensors do not indicate crank direction, a feature that would be useful to determine if an engine reversal occurs leading to the engine accumulating a bounce back angle. A crank sensor signal is analyzed as the engine coasts to a stop so an engine reversal can be detected. After an engine reversal is detected, the crank sensor signal is analyzed to determine the bounce back angle. Engine reversal is detected by determining that the crank shaft has decelerated by more than a threshold value, or that the crank shaft has decelerated and then subsequently accelerated. | 12-01-2011 |
| 20110289959 | AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM HAVING AN IMPROVED INTERNAL HEAT EXCHANGER - An air conditioning system having an improved internal heat exchanger (IHX) assembly. The IHX assembly includes an elongated cavity for low pressure refrigerant flow from an evaporator and an interior tube disposed within the cavity for high pressure refrigerant flow from a condenser, and a pressure equalization passage between the low and high pressure sides. The passage is large enough to allow pressures to equalize between the condenser and evaporator while the air conditioning system is inactive, so as to prevent the pressure differential that would otherwise enable the loss of refrigerant oil from the compressor, and small enough not to effect the operation of the air conditioning system. The pressure equalization passage may be a by-pass valve assembly having a reed portion that is normally open when the air conditioning system is inactive and closed when the air conditioning system is active for maximum cooling efficiency. | 12-01-2011 |
| 20110289905 | EXHAUST GAS HEAT RECOVERY HEAT EXCHANGER - An exhaust gas heat recovery (EGHR) heat exchanger for an internal combustion engine having a housing, a cylindrical body disposed within the housing, an annular exhaust gas passageway, and a central exhaust gas passageway. The EGHR heat exchanger also includes a bypass valve disposed within the central passageway and adapted to selectively by-pass a portion of the exhaust gas from the central exhaust gas passageway to the annular passageway, and at least one twisted tube having at least one edge coiled within the annular exhaust gas passageway. | 12-01-2011 |
| 20110289775 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BENDING A MICRO-CHANNEL HEAT EXCHANGER - An improved corner bending apparatus and method for a bent head exchanger includes a first step of providing a tube edge clearance to at least the inner core face edges of those few tubes encompassed by the area of the core to be bent. A series of elongated braces, able to flex relative to one another, is placed into the tube edge clearance prior to bending. The braces actively maintain the tube edges (and tubes) in a parallel, undeformed orientation during the bend, which may be done by otherwise conventional apparatus. | 12-01-2011 |
| 20110288752 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ESTIMATING STOPPED ENGINE CRANK ANGLE - An engine control system, controller, and method for estimating a stopped engine crank angle of an internal combustion engine. Typical crank sensors do not output a reliable crank signal when the engine is about to stop, and do not indicate crank direction which is necessary to determine if engine bounce-back occurs. A crank sensor signal is analyzed as the engine coasts to a stop so that a coast-down model can be adjusted to accurately estimate the stopped engine crank angle. A bounce-back model is also used to estimate an engine bounce-back angle and so make further corrections to the estimated stopped engine crank angle. | 11-24-2011 |
| 20110284195 | FABRICATED TUBE FOR AN EVAPORATOR - An evaporator assembly having a first header, a second header, at least two banks of evaporator tubes extending therebetween and in hydraulic communication with the first and second headers. At least one of the evaporator tube may be folded from a unitary strip clad aluminum folded having a thickness (t). The evaporator tube includes a height (h) which is measured from the bottom exterior surface to the top exterior surface, and a corner radius (r | 11-24-2011 |
| 20110277954 | MANIFOLD BENDING SUPPORT AND METHOD FOR USING SAME - A bending support having a planar bracing member with a length (L) that is substantially equal to that of the inner diameter (I.D.) of the manifold header that the bending support is ultimately inserted in. Extending perpendicularly from a surface of the bracing member is a pair of bracketing members. The pair of bracketing member and the portion of the planar bracing member therebetween defines a refrigerant conduit clip. The interior surface of the refrigerant conduit clip includes a skived pattern defining a plurality of teeth or protrusions that aids in the attachment of the refrigerant conduit clip onto an internal refrigerant conduit. An aperture located on the planar bracing member between the pair of bracketing member provides an unobstructed path for refrigerant flow to the refrigerant conduit. | 11-17-2011 |
| 20110277713 | HARMONIC DRIVE CAMSHAFT PHASER WITH A COMPACT DRIVE SPROCKET - A camshaft phaser includes a housing with an array of internal splines formed within a bore. A harmonic gear drive unit is disposed within the housing and includes a circular spline and a dynamic spline, a flexspline disposed radially within the circular spline and the dynamic spline, a wave generator disposed radially within the flexspline, and a rotational actuator connectable to the wave generator. One of the circular spline and the dynamic spline is fixed to the housing. A hub is rotatably disposed radially within the housing and attachable to the camshaft and fixed to the other of the circular spline and the dynamic spline. A back plate has an array of external splines engaged in a sliding fit with the array of internal splines for transmitting torque from the back plate to said housing. The back plate also has an input sprocket for receiving rotational motion, in use. | 11-17-2011 |
| 20110277551 | VEHICLE COLLISION STRESS WAVE SENSOR - A sensor configured to detect a stress wave propagating through a vehicle frame member caused by a vehicle collision is provided. The sensor includes a sensor body configured to be rigidly coupled to the vehicle frame member, a first strain sensing device and a second strain sensing device attached to the sensor body. The sensor body is configured to exhibit stress in response to transverse and torsional stress wave propagating along the vehicle frame member. The first strain sensing device generates a first signal indicative of stress in the sensor body and the second strain sensing device generates a second signal indicative of stress in the sensor body. A first end portion of the sensor body is characterized as trapezoidal prism shaped and a second end portion of the sensor body is characterized as trapezoidal prism shaped. | 11-17-2011 |
| 20110277541 | REFRIGERANT LEAK DETECTION SYSTEM - A refrigerant leak detection system is provided for a motor vehicle, in which the system includes a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) module having a refrigerant sensor assembly adapted to be fixed within the drain hole of the sump. The refrigerant sensor assembly includes an elongated sensor element extending into the sump, a flange portion having apertures that allows the condensate to drain from sump, a collar portion with self-tapping threads. | 11-17-2011 |
| 20110276252 | Heated Fuel Injector System - A heated fuel injector system and controller that includes a temperature sensing means to provide closed-loop control of a heating element heating fuel dispensed by a heated fuel injector. Closed-loop control provides more accurate temperature control of the heating element so that fuel heating is provided as quickly as possible while also protecting the fuel from being boiled and protecting the heated fuel injector from being damaged by excessive temperature. By monitoring how the signal from the temperature sensing means varies over time, fault conditions such as a lack of fuel flow, and fuel ethanol percentage may be detected. | 11-10-2011 |
| 20110275309 | COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD THEREOF - A communication system and method thereof are provided, wherein the system includes a first satellite configured to re-transmit at least a first transmitted signal at a first frequency band, a second satellite configured to re-transmit the first transmitted signal at a second frequency band, and a first terrestrial repeater configured to re-transmit the first transmitted signal at a third frequency band. The system further includes a third satellite configured to re-transmit a second transmitted signal at the third frequency band that is different than the first transmitted signal re-transmitted by the first and second satellites, such that the first signal re-transmitted by the first terrestrial repeater, and the second signal re-transmitted by the third satellite interfere with one another, wherein the first signals re-transmitted by the first satellite, the second satellite, and the first terrestrial repeater includes substantially the same data. | 11-10-2011 |
| 20110270491 | Noise Reduction for Occupant Detection System and Method - An occupant detection system with noise reduction, a controller having noise reduction for an occupant detection system and a method for reducing noise in an occupant detection system. A high order digital filter is used to filter harmonics of a noise signal from an electrode signal used to determine an occupant presence or absence of the occupant. A way of sampling the electrode signal and the implementation of the high order digital filter cooperate such that the signal processing can be performed by a lower cost general purpose microprocessor as opposed to using a higher cost digital signal processor. | 11-03-2011 |
| 20110269059 | METHOD OF MAKING A SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELL STACK - A method of making a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) stack that includes the steps of applying a seal enhancing coating and a conductive coating onto respective surfaces of a separator plate and simultaneously co-firing the coatings in a reducing atmosphere. The method may also include, prior to the step of co-firing, the step of assembling a plurality of separator plates with complementary cell-retainer assemblies to form a plurality of fuel cell cassettes. The fuel cell cassettes are then stacked with a glass sealant applied between the fuel cell cassettes to form a SOFC stack. The entire SOFC stack is then co-fired in a reducing atmosphere such that the seal enhancing and conductive coatings are bonded into the respective surfaces and the glass sealant devitrify to form a glass seal joining and sealing the cassettes of the SOFC stack. | 11-03-2011 |
| 20110269053 | SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELL HAVING A GLASS COMPOSITE SEAL - A solid oxide fuel cell stack having a plurality of cassettes and a glass composite seal disposed between the sealing surfaces of adjacent cassettes, thereby joining the cassettes and providing a hermetic seal therebetween. The glass composite seal includes an alkaline earth aluminosilicate (AEAS) glass disposed about a viscous glass such that the AEAS glass retains the viscous glass in a predetermined position between the first and second sealing surfaces. The AEAS glass provides geometric stability to the glass composite seal to maintain the proper distance between the adjacent cassettes while the viscous glass provides for a compliant and self-healing seal. The glass composite seal may include fibers, powders, and/or beads of zirconium oxide, aluminum oxide, yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ), or mixtures thereof, to enhance the desirable properties of the glass composite seal. | 11-03-2011 |
| 20110269052 | Multiple Stack Fuel Cell System - A fuel cell system is disclosed comprising a plurality of fuel cell modules including a sealed planar fuel cell stack, the stack including internal manifold channels for transport of fuel and air to fuel cells within the stack and transport of tail gas and spent air away from fuel cells within the stack. Each of the fuel cell stacks is mounted on a stack footprint area of a top member of a base manifold. The base manifolds are configured to allow for interconnection of a number of fuel cell stack modules to provide a fuel cell system capable of producing power outputs that otherwise would have required large surface area cells or stack with a large number of cells. | 11-03-2011 |
| 20110269042 | MULTIPLE STACK FUEL CELL SYSTEM WITH SHARED PLENUM - A multi-stack fuel cell system is disclosed where multiple fuel cell stacks can be efficiently connected together. The fuel cell system includes a plurality of fuel cell modules include a sealed planar fuel cell stack that has internal manifold channels for transport of fuel and air to fuel cells within the stack and transport of tail gas and spent air away from fuel cells within the stack. Each of the fuel cell stacks is mounted on a base manifold, and the base manifold has side openings in fluid communication with the stack internal manifold channels. The side openings on the base manifold are configured so that the modules can be efficiently connected together. | 11-03-2011 |
| 20110269033 | System for Adding Sulfur to a Fuel Cell Stack System for Improved Fuel Cell Stability - A system for adding sulfur to a fuel cell stack, having a reformer adapted to reform a hydrocarbon fuel stream containing sulfur contaminants, thereby providing a reformate stream having sulfur; a sulfur trap fluidly coupled downstream of the reformer for removing sulfur from the reformate stream, thereby providing a desulfurized reformate stream; and a metering device in fluid communication with the reformate stream upstream of the sulfur trap and with the desulfurized reformate stream downstream of the sulfur trap. The metering device is adapted to bypass a portion of the reformate stream to mix with the desulfurized reformate stream, thereby producing a conditioned reformate stream having a predetermined sulfur concentration that gives an acceptable balance of minimal drop in initial power with the desired maximum stability of operation over prolonged periods for the fuel cell stack. | 11-03-2011 |
| 20110269032 | COMBUSTOR FOR A FUEL CELL SYSTEM - A combustor generates and supplies hot combustion gases to a fuel reformer. The combustor includes a housing defining a combustion chamber. The combustor also includes a fuel vaporizer having a fuel tube with an electric heating element. The fuel tube is positioned such that a portion thereof extends into the combustion chamber and is exposed to the hot combustion gases exiting the combustion chamber. An electric current is supplied to the electric heating element to vaporize the liquid fuel within the fuel tube when the temperature within the combustion chamber is below is a predetermined temperature. Substantially no electric current is supplied to the electric heating element when the temperature within the combustion chamber is at least the predetermined temperature and the hot combustion gases passing over the portion of the fuel tube extending into the combustion chamber vaporize the liquid fuel within the fuel tube. | 11-03-2011 |
| 20110268631 | MULTI-TUBE CHEMICAL REACTOR WITH TESSELLATED HEAT TRANSFER FINS - A chemical reactor is provided that includes: | 11-03-2011 |
| 20110265767 | ISOLATER FOR FUEL INJECTOR - A fuel injector-engine component assembly includes an engine component with a stepped bore defined along an axis and having a stepped bore stop surface facing axially upward. A fuel injector extending along the axis is disposed in the stepped bore and includes a fuel injector stop surface facing axially downward and axially opposing the stepped bore stop surface. An isolation ring is disposed between the engine component and fuel injector stop surfaces for axially isolating the fuel injector from the engine component. The isolation ring includes a rigid support member for limiting the axial motion of the engine component and fuel injector stop surfaces together. The isolation ring also includes a resilient and compliant isolation member located axially between the engine component and fuel injector stop surfaces to provide acoustic and thermal isolation between the fuel injector and the engine component below a predetermined pressure of the fuel injector. | 11-03-2011 |
| 20110263161 | FUSE ADAPTER - A fuse adapter adapts coplanar blades of fuse having a predetermined blade spacing to fit a pair of coplanar blade receiving terminal slots in a circuit having a different slot spacing. The fuse adapter includes a pair of adapter terminals. Each adapter terminal has a slotted, planar upper end spaced from the other terminal's slotted upper end by the fuse blade spacing. Each adapter terminal upper end also has an adjusting tab bent away from the upper end substantially perpendicular thereto and substantially parallel to the plane of the coplanar terminal slots. Each adjusting tab is integral with a transition portion that extends to an adapter blade. The two adapter blades are coplanar with and spaced apart to match the fuse blade receiving terminal slots in the circuit. | 10-27-2011 |
| 20110257817 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMMUNICATING WITH A VEHICLE - A system for communicating with a vehicle includes a control module equipped with a remote keyless entry (RKE) receiver and configured to control vehicle functions in response to a RKE signal. The system includes a fob equipped with a RKE transmitter and a short range transceiver, such as BLUETOOTH™, IEEE 802.11, or near field communication (NFC). The fob transmits a RKE signal in response to receiving a message from a consumer device, such as a cellular phone, smart phone, tablet computer, or personal computer equipped with a short range transceiver, enabling the user to control the vehicle from the consumer device. The system may be configured to transmit vehicle status information to the consumer device. The control module may include a third short range transceiver that communicates with the consumer device when the distance is between the vehicle and the consumer device is less than the distance threshold. | 10-20-2011 |
| 20110251811 | METHOD TO DETERMINE A QUALITY ACCEPTANCE CRITERION USING FORCE SIGNATURES - A method is provided to determine a quality acceptance criterion using force signatures measured on a first and a second set of elements. The first set has no quality defect and the second set has a deliberate quality defect. Selection of an initial subset of time points is based on statistical analysis of the force data on the force signatures in the two sets. The quality acceptance criterion includes a quality threshold established using Mahalanobis Distance (MD) values and the MD values are produced from force data at a selected initial subset of time points for each element in the two sets. An output of the determined quality acceptance criterion is using the defined quality threshold to separate an element having a force signature into a group of elements having no quality defect or into a group of elements having a quality defect like the deliberate quality defect. | 10-13-2011 |
| 20110251777 | System and Method for Controlling an Injection Time of a Fuel Injector Based on Closing Electrical Decay - A system and method for controlling an injection time of a fuel injector. The system includes a drive circuit configured to output a drive signal having a pulse width, wherein the injection time is influenced by the pulse width and a closing electrical decay of the fuel injector. A controller is configured to determine the closing electrical decay of the fuel injector and adapt the pulse width based on the closing electrical decay to control the injection time. The closing electrical decay includes a closing response. The controller determines the closing response based on an injector signal, such as a coil voltage of the fuel injector. By determining the closing response, the pulse width can be adjusted to compensate for fuel injector part-to-part variability, fuel injector wear, variations in fuel pressure received by the fuel injector, dirt in the fuel injector, and the like. | 10-13-2011 |
| 20110251776 | FUEL ACCUMULATOR AND FUEL SYSTEM USING THE SAME - A fuel accumulator is provided to assist restarting a direct injection engine fuel system. The fuel accumulator includes a central guide post with a fuel passage. A cup shaped plunger with a closed end is slideably disposed on the central guide post. A seal means is disposed between the plunger and the central guide post to define a substantially sealed fuel chamber. A biasing means is provided to urge the plunger onto the central guide post. A fuel admission valve selectively prevents and permits fuel from entering and exiting the fuel accumulator. When a fuel system stop is commanded, pressurized fuel is admitted into the fuel chamber, thereby compressing the biasing means which maintains a restart pressure. When a fuel system start is commanded, pressurized fuel is expelled from the fuel accumulator. | 10-13-2011 |
| 20110251755 | Parallel Parking Assistant System and Method Thereof - A parallel parking assistant system integrated with a vehicle and method thereof are provided, the parking assistant system including a first sensor configured to determine a first distance, a second sensor configured to determine a second distance, and a controller configured to provide commands as a function of the first and second determined distances. The commands include a first command configured to command a steering system to be in a clockwise position while the vehicle is moving in a reverse direction for a first reversing distance, a second command configured to command the steering system to be in a substantially straight position while the vehicle is moving in a reverse direction for a second reversing distance, and a third command configured to command the steering system to be in a counter-clockwise position while the vehicle is a moving in a reverse direction for a third reversing distance. | 10-13-2011 |
| 20110248973 | BRIGHTNESS CONTROL DRIVE CIRCUIT FOR A CURRENT-DRIVEN DISPLAY DEVICE - A current-driven display device includes sub-pixel drive circuits with integral photo-sensitive circuits that modify the respective sub-pixel drive currents as a function of the locally sensed ambient light level. The photo-sensitive circuit may include a photo-transistor or photo-resistor connected in the output circuit of a drive transistor used to control the on-off state of a respective sub-pixel element, or the photo-sensitive circuit may include a photo-resistor that adjusts a control voltage or current supplied to an input circuit of the drive transistor. In any event, the photo-sensitive circuits individually and independently adjust the drive current, and hence the luminance, of each sub-pixel element based on the locally sensed ambient light level to locally and dynamically compensate for changes in ambient light impinging on the display device. | 10-13-2011 |
| 20110244297 | PRISMATIC-CELL BATTERY PACK WITH INTEGRAL COOLANT CHANNELS - A prismatic-cell battery pack is provided with integral coolant passages and a distributed array of coolant channels coupled between an intake plenum and a pair of exhaust plenums. Coolant medium forced into the intake plenum draws heat away from the battery cells, and then exits via the exhaust plenum for expulsion of heat into the atmosphere. The battery pack is configured as a set of stackable interlocking battery cell modules including at least one battery cell in thermal proximity to an array of coolant channels distributed over the profile of the battery cell, and a pair of peripheral chambers joined to opposite ends of the coolant channels to form the intake and exhaust plenums when the modules are arranged and interlocked in a lineal stack. The entry end of each channel is closer to a centerline of the battery cell than the exit end of the channel. | 10-06-2011 |
| 20110241895 | OBJECT DETECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD USING SUB-SAMPLING - An object detection system, controller, and method using sub-sampling for detecting a presence of an object at the location. An electrode arranged near the location radiates an electric field that corresponds to an electrode signal that arises in response to an excitation signal. When the excitation signal is coupled to the electrode and the electric field is radiated, the electrode exhibits an electrode impedance indicative of the presence of an object. The presence of an object is detected by analyzing the electrode signal using sub-sampling. Traditionally, such electrode signals have frequencies, high enough to warrant the use of expensive high-frequency signal processing devices. Sub-sampling is a way of sampling and processing the electrode signal such that the signal processing to detect the object can be performed by a lower cost general purpose microprocessor. | 10-06-2011 |
| 20110241853 | HIGH-MOUNT PROJECTION DISPLAY APPARATUS FOR A VEHICLE - A projection display apparatus that presents a high-mount image to the driver of a vehicle includes an LCD or OLED display device and a set of projection minors embedded in an instrument panel forward of the driver. The display includes a first display portion facing away from the driver, on which a first image for high-mount presentation is formed. The projection minors project the first image back into the driver compartment for presentation to the driver in a high-mount location. Preferably, the display further includes a second display portion facing toward the driver, on which a second image for cluster presentation is formed. In the preferred arrangement, the driver directly views the second image in a cluster location disposed below the high mount location. | 10-06-2011 |
| 20110240276 | HEAT EXCHANGER HAVING AN INLET DISTRIBUTOR AND OUTLET COLLECTOR - An improved heat exchanger assembly having an inlet header in hydraulic communication with an outlet header via a plurality of multi-channel flat refrigerant tubes, in which the multi-channel flat refrigerant tubes are substantially perpendicular to the headers. Interconnecting the refrigerant tubes are corrugated fins. The plurality of refrigerant tubes together with the fins defines the core of the heat exchanger assembly. The heat exchanger assembly also includes a distributor tube disposed in the inlet header cavity and a collector tube disposed in the outlet header cavity. The distributor tube and collector tube have cooperating features for archiving uniform refrigerant distribution through the refrigerant tubes. | 10-06-2011 |
| 20110234372 | INTERACTIVE PHONE MESSAGE CONTROL APPARATUS FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE - A motor vehicle includes control apparatus for establishing an interactive human-machine interface (HMI) between a vehicle driver and an on-board communication system that is wirelessly coupled to a nomadic communication device carried by the driver. The on-board communication system has the ability to activate the nomadic communication device to check for messages, and the interactive HMI includes a configurable display through which check-message inquiries are selectively communicated to the driver, and an input device selectively manipulated by the driver to accept a check-message inquiry. An HMI controller responsive to sensed vehicle operating condition data and driver manipulation of the input device determines if and when a check-message inquiry should be communicated to the driver. | 09-29-2011 |
| 20110233311 | VALVE SEAT AND SHROUD FOR GASEOUS FUEL INJECTOR - A fuel injector is provided with a fuel inlet, a fuel outlet, and a fuel passage for communicating fuel from the inlet to the outlet. A valve and valve seat assembly is provided for selectively preventing and permitting fuel to pass from the fuel inlet to the fuel outlet. The valve seat is defined by a tubular body and a valve seat that traverses an inside wall surface of the tubular body. An upstream face of the valve seat is downstream of an upstream end of the tubular body and a downstream face of the valve seat is upstream of a downstream end of the tubular body. At least one passage is provided through the tubular body beginning downstream of the downstream face of the valve seat and upstream of the downstream end of the tubular body. A cover may be disposed at the downstream end of the tubular body. | 09-29-2011 |
| 20110233038 | ROOF SWITCH ASSEMBLY - A switch assembly comprises a housing, an actuating member mounted on the housing and a plurality of electrical switching members. The actuating member is able to translate frontward and backward and to pivot upward and downward, thus cooperating with the electrical switching members to control the roof displacements. | 09-29-2011 |
| 20110232268 | PARTICULATE MATTER SENSOR - A particulate matter sensor is provided for sensing particulate matter present in exhaust gases in a conduit. The particulate matter sensor includes a sensing element with a sensing face which extends into the exhaust conduit and provides a signal indicative of the amount of particulate matter detected in the exhaust conduit. An inner shield is provided to surround the sensing face and includes an inner shield inlet for admitting exhaust gases therein to be sensed. An outer shield surrounds a portion of the inner shield and defines an outer shield chamber extending axially beyond the inner shield. The outer shield has an outer shield inlet passage to receive exhaust gasses from the conduit. Exhaust gases enter the inner shield from the outer shield chamber through the inner shield inlet. | 09-29-2011 |
| 20110222634 | COMMUNICATION SYSTEM UTILIZING A HIERARCHICALLY MODULATED SIGNAL AND METHOD THEREOF - A communication system utilizing a hierarchically modulated signal and method thereof are provided, wherein a receiver system is configured to receive a hierarchically modulated signal. The receiver system includes a receiver device configured to receive the hierarchically modulated signal, which is a function of a time domain, and including a high priority data stream that has a single carrier type modulation, and a low priority data stream having data bits that are spread over a plurality of data symbols of a high priority data modulation. The receiver system further includes a low priority processor device, which includes an OFDM decoder configured to convert the low priority data stream of the hierarchically modulated signal that is a function of the time domain to be a function of a frequency domain by utilizing a FFT, such that an output is emitted that is representative of the low priority data stream. | 09-15-2011 |
| 20110215917 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMMUNICATING A SIGNAL TO EMIT A VISUAL DISPLAY AT DIFFERENT FRAME RATES - A receiver system integrated with a vehicle, transmitter system, and methods thereof are provided. The receiver system includes an antenna configured to receive the signal, and a receiver device in communication with the antenna, the receiver device is configured to process the received signal, wherein the receiver device is further configured to determine if the vehicle is in one of a first state and a second state. The receiver system further includes a display in communication with the receiver device, wherein the display is configured to emit a visual display as a function of the received signal, and the display emits the visual display at a first frame rate when the receiver device determines that the vehicle is in the first state, and the display emits the visual display at a second frame rate when the receiver device determines that the vehicle is in the second state. | 09-08-2011 |
| 20110215269 | PRESSURE CONTROL VALVE - A switchable valve assembly is provided with a housing having a longitudinal bore with a spool disposed therein. The spool is selectively positioned within the longitudinal bore for controlling the flow of working fluid between a supply port and a control port and between the control port and a vent port. An actuator assembly is provided for selectively positioning the spool in the longitudinal bore. The actuator assembly includes a connecting rod for mechanically transmitting linear motion to the spool when switching from at least one valve mode to another valve mode. The connecting rod is structurally separate from the spool. | 09-08-2011 |
| 20110206224 | AUDIO SYSTEM CONFIGURED TO FADE AUDIO OUTPUTS AND METHOD THEREOF - An audio system configured to fade audio outputs and method thereof are provided, wherein the audio system includes a first speaker, a second speaker, a low-frequency output speaker, wherein the low-frequency output speaker is proximate the at least one second speaker, and a receiver configured to alter a signal communicated to the first speaker, the second speaker, and the low-frequency output speaker, such that the audio outputs thereof are faded. The audio system further includes a filter in communication between the receiver and the first speaker, wherein the filter is configured to limit a frequency of the signal communicated from the receiver to the first speaker, and a processor configured to alter a frequency limit of the filter, such that a low frequency portion of the signal is received by the first speaker, and a low-frequency output of the first speaker is increased approximately proportionately to the fade of the second speaker, the low-frequency output speaker, or a combination thereof. | 08-25-2011 |
| 20110206208 | VEHICLE ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM HAVING GROUND NOISE REDUCTION AND METHOD OF OPERATING THE SAME - A vehicle entertainment system and method that alternately configures an input of the entertainment system as a differential input that is decoupled from a ground point, or as ground referenced input that is coupled to a ground point. A noise detector determines a noise signal value for a ground switch module that alternately changes a switch state between a coupled state that couples the common channel connection to the ground point, and a decoupled state that decouples the common channel connection from the ground point, based upon the noise signal value being greater than a threshold. | 08-25-2011 |
| 20110203359 | SEALED ENGINE CONTROL MODULE WITH INTEGRAL AMBIENT AIR PRESSURE SENSOR - An engine control module having an environmentally-sealed housing includes a housing-mounted air pressure sensor for providing a reliable measure of atmospheric air pressure to a control circuit mounted within the housing. The sensor is mounted on an inboard face of the housing, and includes a sensor element, a body portion and a riser portion. The sensor element is mounted in the body portion, and the riser portion protrudes through an opening in the housing to couple the sensor element to atmospheric pressure outside the housing. The body portion is sealingly secured to the inboard face of the housing, and a set of conductor pins molded into the body portion extend inward to engage a circuit board enclosed by the housing, and thereby directly couple the sensor element to the ECM's control circuit. The top of the riser portion is capped by a splash-proof lid to prevent water intrusion. | 08-25-2011 |
| 20110199060 | VOLTAGE AND CURRENT REGULATION METHOD FOR A TWO-STAGE DC-DC CONVERTER CIRCUIT - A control methodology for a two-stage PWM DC-DC conversion system, with transformer-isolation, in which the converter circuit input voltage is compared to a set voltage calibrated as a function of the desired output voltage and the maximum voltage conversion ratio provided by the second-stage converter. When the input voltage is above the set voltage, the second-stage converter is controlled to provide both output voltage regulation during normal operation and output current limiting during over-current conditions. However, when the input voltage is below the set voltage, the first-stage converter is controlled to provide output voltage regulation with minor output current limiting, and the second-stage converter is controlled to provide extended output current limiting independent of the input voltage. | 08-18-2011 |
| 20110190987 | OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD - An occupant detection system, a controller for an occupant detection system and a method of detecting an occupant. The presence or absence of the occupant varies the dielectric properties of an area proximate to influence the electrical impedance of the electrode. The electrode impedance is determined based on based on the excitation signal frequency, the excitation signal magnitude, and the electrode signal magnitude, and thereby determine an occupant presence based on the electrode impedance. The excitation signal magnitude is adjusted to optimize the electrode signal magnitude. The electrode signal magnitude is optimized to be large enough to be accurately measured, but not so large as to cause excessive radiated emissions. The excitation signal magnitude may be adjusted for each excitation signal frequency so the electrode signal magnitude is optimized regardless of frequency. | 08-04-2011 |
| 20110190980 | OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD - An occupant detection system, a controller for an occupant detection system and a method of detecting an occupant. The presence or absence of the occupant varies the dielectric properties of an area proximate an electrode to influence the electrical impedance of the electrode. The electrode impedance is determined by determining electrical characteristics of a filter formed by a reference impedance device and the electrode. The pole frequency and absolute attenuation of the filter are determined based on a relative ratio of the excitation signal magnitude and the electrode signal magnitude, at two distinct frequencies. A lookup table may be used to determine the pole frequency and absolute attenuation based on the relative ratio, and thereby determine an occupant presence based on the electrode impedance. | 08-04-2011 |
| 20110187057 | PROCEDURE FOR COVERING AN ELECTRICAL CONDUCTOR WITH A FLEXIBLE SEAL ELEMENT - The present invention concerns a method for sheathing an electrical conductor with an elastic sealing element. In the method, first a through-opening is produced in the sealing element with a first equivalent diameter. Next the through-opening which has been produced with a first equivalent diameter is expanded to a second equivalent diameter, in order to be able to introduce an electrical conductor into it. Then contraction of the through-opening which has been expanded to the second equivalent diameter is brought about, in order thus to obtain sealing off of the electrical conductor from the elastic sealing element. | 08-04-2011 |
| 20110186654 | VALVE SEAT FOR GASEOUS FUEL INJECTOR - A gaseous fuel injector is provided with a fuel inlet, a fuel outlet, and a conduit for communicating fuel from the inlet to the outlet. A valve and valve seat is provided for selectively preventing and permitting fuel to pass from the fuel inlet to the fuel outlet. The valve seat has a plurality of apertures for providing fluid communication therethrough. The valve has a sealing face for selectively engaging and disengaging the valve seat to selectively prevent and permit fuel from passing therethrough. The valve seat includes a raised seating surface for sealing against the sealing face when the valve is engaged with the valve seat. The raised seating surface is defined by at least one wall that continuously surrounds each aperture. Each wall is in continuous fluid communication with the entirety of each wall downstream of the sealing face when the valve is engaged with the valve seat. | 08-04-2011 |
| 20110185574 | METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A BENT HEAT EXCHANGER - An improved bending apparatus for bending a radiused corner at a window in a brazed heat exchanger core where no tubes and fins are located. A cylindrical mandrel and sliding pressure die are designed to completely surround the manifold in the areas of the window and provide a continuous, rolling contact area or profile support around the manifold as the bending moment is applied. | 08-04-2011 |
| 20110185549 | PROCEDURE AND DEVICE FOR ASSEMBLY OF A FLEXIBLE SEAL ELEMENT ON AN ELECTRICAL CONDUCTOR - The present invention concerns an apparatus for use in the assembly of an elastic sealing element on an electrical conductor as well as a method for sheathing an electrical conductor with an elastic sealing element. The apparatus according to the invention has a first pin which performs a reciprocating movement and at the front end of which is formed a cutting tip which, on penetration through a sealing element positioned in front of the cutting tip in the direction of reciprocation and designed as a solid body, produces a through-opening in the sealing element. Furthermore, the apparatus comprises a second pin for receiving the sealing element which has been provided with a through-opening by the first pin, wherein the outer circumference of the second pin in at least one region is larger than the outer circumference of the first pin for expansion of the through-opening produced in the elastic sealing element. | 08-04-2011 |
| 20110181728 | ELECTRONIC SIDE VIEW DISPLAY SYSTEM - An apparatus provides an electronic replacement for driver and passenger side view minor systems. Specifically, a set of unique features provide enhanced fuel economy, safety and convenience. The invention relies upon electronic imaging cameras and electronic active matrix displays (e.g. LCD, OLED, etc.) for reproducing the image, with the addition of reality enhancing features. | 07-28-2011 |
| 20110181441 | PARKING GUIDANCE SYSTEM - The present application discloses a parking guidance system. The parking guidance system is mounted on a vehicle and includes a camera, a display device with a display correction system, a parking mode selection apparatus, a parking area selection apparatus, a first turning guidance apparatus, and a second turning guidance apparatus. The camera is mounted at the rear of the vehicle to capture the image showing environment behind the vehicle. The display device with a display correction system is coupled to the camera and is configured to display an image corrected by the display correction system. The parking mode selection apparatus is coupled to the display device. The parking mode selection apparatus displays a predicted parking area on the display device. The parking area selection apparatus is coupled to the display device. The parking area selection apparatus displays a parking guidance area on the display device. The first turning guidance apparatus is coupled to the display device. The first turning guidance apparatus displays an arc on the display device. The second turning guidance apparatus is coupled to the display device. The second turning guidance apparatus displays on the display device a parking track with distance indication. | 07-28-2011 |
| 20110175791 | MULTI-BEAM, POLARIZATION DIVERSITY NARROW-BAND COGNITIVE ANTENNA - A multi-beam, polarization diversity, narrow-band cognitive antenna system is disclosed. The antenna system includes a plurality of antenna elements, switching elements, and transmission feed lines disposed on a PCB substrate, inside or on the enclosure of a consumer wireless device, on the airframe of an air vehicle, or on the surface of a ground vehicle. The plurality of switching elements are arranged with the antenna elements and transmission feed lines to, when selectively closed, electrically couple selected ones of the antenna elements and transmission feed lines to one another to generate an antenna configuration selected from a plurality of antenna configurations. A non-volatile memory is configured to store data representing at least some of the plurality of antenna configurations. A control arrangement operatively coupled to the plurality of switching elements and configured to close selected ones of the switching elements as a function of the data stored in said memory. Means are provided to selectively update the data on a function of previously selected antenna configurations. | 07-21-2011 |
| 20110174525 | Method and Electronic Assembly to Attach a Component to a Substrate - A method and an electronic assembly for attaching a component to a substrate, or printed circuit board, is recited. The printed circuit board comprises a solder-nonwettable surface and a bond pad being formed of a solder-wettable surface. The printed circuit board defines a through hole extending through the printed circuit board and the bond pad. A plate lining a first portion of the through hole in the printed circuit board is formed of a solder-wettable material. Solder paste is applied to the bond pad and into the through hole. A component including a terminal overlies the bond pad in an arrangement. Reflowing the solder paste forms a solder fillet that bonds the terminal to the bond pad. The solder fillet extends within the through hole attaching the component to the printed circuit board. | 07-21-2011 |
| 20110163904 | INTEGRATED RADAR-CAMERA SENSOR - An integrated radar-camera sensor is provided which includes a camera sensor component and a radar sensor component both housed within a common single module housing. The sensor module also includes processing circuitry for processing the radar sensor and camera outputs. The sensor module is located behind the windshield of a vehicle and may include glare and/or EMI shields. | 07-07-2011 |
| 20110159173 | CONDUCTIVE COATING FOR SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELLS - A method of manufacturing an electrically conductive interconnect for a solid oxide fuel cell stack, including the steps of (a) making a metal substrate having a first surface configured for electrical contact with an anode of the solid oxide fuel cell stack and a second surface configured for electrical contact with a cathode of the solid oxide fuel cell stack; (b) depositing a layer comprising metallic cobalt over at least a portion of at least one of the first and second surfaces; and (c) subjecting the metallic cobalt to reducing conditions, thereby causing at least a portion of the metallic cobalt to diffuse into the metal substrate. | 06-30-2011 |
| 20110158178 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF EDGE CACHING WHEN CUMMUNICATING DATA - A communication system for distributing data over an area. The system includes a base station configured to transmit common data over a range that is within the area. The system also includes a plurality of nodes, wherein each node is configured to receive the common data from the base station when within the range, receive the common data from another node when within the area, store and transport the common data, transmit the common data to another node within the area, and display the common data. Neither the base station nor nodes individually are capable of transmitting data over the entire area, but the features of the nodes provide for propagating the data by passing the data from node to node when two nodes are within relatively close proximity to each other. | 06-30-2011 |
| 20110140891 | Electrode for an Occupant Sensing System Having Fault Detection and Method of Operating the Same - An electrode formed of electrically conductive material and configured for use in an occupant sensing system. The electrode includes an antenna portion and a diagnostic portion. The antenna portion is configured to provide an electrical impedance indicative of an occupant presence. The diagnostic loop portion is configured to provide an electrical conductivity indicative of a condition of the electrode. | 06-16-2011 |
| 20110140872 | Vehicle Lane Departure Warning System Having Trailer Mode and Method - A vehicle lane departure warning system and method are provided having a trailer mode. The system includes an imager capturing images of a roadway forward of a vehicle and an input receiving a towing signal indicative of whether the vehicle is towing a trailer. The system also includes a processor for processing the captured images and determining whether the vehicle or trailer is expected to be departing from a lane on the roadway based on the captured images and a threshold width value. The processor selects the threshold width value based on the input towing signal such that an enhanced threshold width value is employed when the vehicle is towing a trailer. An output is provided for outputting a lane departure warning signal based on the processed images and selected threshold width value. | 06-16-2011 |
| 20110140413 | SKIVED MANIFOLD COUPLER - A coupling of a heat exchanger includes a saddle for engaging a cylindrical manifold. The saddle has an arcuate cross-section extending between a first edge and a second edge. The saddle defines an opening and a tubular member extends through the saddle and between a top edge and a bottom edge. A lip extends outward from the top edge and a skirt interconnects the lip to the opening in the saddle. The tubular member is oblong-shaped adjacent the opening of the saddle and the tubular member has an oblong-shaped portion extending from the bottom edge to adjacent the opening in the saddle and terminating at a transition zone. The tubular member has a circular-shaped portion extending from the transition zone to the top edge. The oblong-shaped portion has a shorter dimension in the direction between the first and second edges than the circular shaped portion. | 06-16-2011 |
| 20110139618 | CERAMIC EXHAUST GAS SENSOR - Ceramic exhaust gas sensors are disclosed that offer enhanced dimensional stability during curing, with reduced occurrence of deformations like bending or warping, and can be used in a variety of exhaust gas component sensing applications. The sensors of the invention utilize appropriate selection and orientation of the various layers of green ceramic tape that make up the sensor structure to provide enhanced dimensional stability. | 06-16-2011 |
| 20110139425 | TWO ROW BENT EVAPORATOR | 06-16-2011 |
| 20110139422 | FLUID DISTRIBUTION DEVICE - A heat exchanger assembly including a first manifold extending along an axis between first manifold ends and including an inner wall presenting an interior. A fluid distribution device is disposed in the interior of the first manifold and includes an inlet tube extending along the axis from an inlet end to a distribution end. The inlet tube presents a plurality of apertures spaced circumferentially from one another and spaced axially from the distribution end for dispensing the refrigerant in a radial direction out of the inlet tube. The fluid distribution device further includes a collar surrounding and spaced radially from the inlet tube and extending axially in both directions axially from the apertures of the inlet tube for redirecting into an axial direction the refrigerant flowing in the radial direction out of the apertures to evenly distribute the refrigerant across the interior of the first manifold. | 06-16-2011 |
| 20110139421 | FLOW DISTRIBUTOR FOR A HEAT EXCHANGER ASSEMBLY - A heat exchanger including a pair of manifolds. An inlet is disposed on one of the ends of the first manifold. A core extends between the manifolds for conveying a coolant therebetween and for transferring heat between the coolant and a stream of air. A cross-over plate is disposed in one of the manifolds to divide the associated one of the manifolds into an upstream section and a downstream section. The cross-over plate presents a plurality of orifices defining a cross-over opening area for establishing fluid communication between the upstream and downstream sections of the associated manifold. The cross-over opening area continuously increases along an axis away from the inlet. The ratio of the total cross-over opening area to the upstream cross-sectional area of the tubes of the core is in the range of XXXXXXXX:XXXXXXX to XXXX:XXXXXX. | 06-16-2011 |
| 20110139414 | Low Pressure Drop Fin with Selective Micro Surface Enhancement - The assembly includes a heat exchanger assembly including a plurality of tubes extending between first and second manifolds. A plurality of fins extend back and forth between and long the tubes in a continuous patch and define a plurality of legs extending between the tubes. Each of the legs includes a plurality of front long louvers for conveying a stream of air through the legs. Each of the legs further defines a plurality of main spoilers between the front long louvers and the back edges of the legs for inducing turbulence in the stream of air with each of the main spoilers having a spoiler height in the range of 50 to 90 percent of the long louver height and each of the main spoilers having a spoiler length in the range of 10 to 35 percent of the long louver length. | 06-16-2011 |
| 20110139413 | FLOW DISTRIBUTOR FOR A HEAT EXCHANGER ASSEMBLY - A heat exchanger including a pair of manifolds. An inlet is disposed on one of the ends of the first manifold. A core extends between the manifolds for conveying a coolant therebetween and for transferring heat between the coolant and a stream of air. A cross-over plate is disposed in one of the manifolds to divide the associated one of the manifolds into an upstream section and a downstream section. The cross-over plate presents a plurality of orifices defining a cross-over opening area for establishing fluid communication between the upstream and downstream sections of the associated manifold. The cross-over opening area continuously increases along an axis away from the inlet. The total cross-over opening area is 30% to 300% of the upstream cross-sectional area of the tubes of the core. | 06-16-2011 |
| 20110139099 | Dual Intake Valve System with One Deactivation Valve and One Multi-Lift Valve for Swirl Enhancement - In a dual intake valve arrangement for an internal combustion engine, a variable valve lift system controls two intake valves for one or more engine cylinders. In each cylinder, one of the intake valves includes an associated two-step actuation device, and the other includes an associated valve deactivation device. To improve in-cylinder air flow turbulence, one valve may be operated in a high-lift or low-lift state while the other valve may be deactivated. | 06-16-2011 |
| 20110138791 | Liquid Reductant Dosing Module with Heating Device - A liquid reductant dosing module for a combustion exhaust system is disclosed comprising an enclosed reservoir comprising a top, a bottom, one or more sides, an inlet, and an outlet. A resistive wire rod heater is disposed in that reservoir, comprising a hollow member extending along a first axis between the bottom of the reservoir and the top of the reservoir. Along that member there is disposed resistive metal wire such that when electric current is applied to the resistive metal wire, a greater portion of electric power is distributed as heat proximate to the bottom of the reservoir than is distributed as heat proximate to the top of the reservoir. | 06-16-2011 |
| 20110138790 | Urea Delivery Tank Module - A liquid reductant dosing module for a combustion exhaust treatment system is disclosed comprising:
| 06-16-2011 |
| 20110138787 | LIQUID REDUCTANT DOSING RESERVOIR AND METHOD FOR ITS MANUFACTURE - A liquid reductant dosing reservoir for a combustion exhaust treatment system is disclosed comprising:
| 06-16-2011 |
| 20110133957 | VEHICLE PARKING LOCATOR SYSTEM AND METHOD USING CONNECTED VEHICLES - A vehicle parking locator system and method are provided. The system includes a database storing data pertaining to the vehicle parking locations including available parking locations, and a communication link for communicating with vehicles and other sources. The communication link receives parking location information including information pertaining to availability of parking locations and further provides vehicles with parking location information to assist in locating a parking location. The system further includes a processor for processing the stored data in the database and providing parking location information to vehicles. | 06-09-2011 |
| 20110133914 | IMAGE BASED VEHICLE OBJECT DETECTION SENSOR WITH RANGE FINDER - An image based object detection system and method having a range finder are provided. The system includes an illuminator located on a vehicle to generate an illumination beam in a coverage zone relative to the vehicle. The system also includes an optics device spaced from the illuminator for collecting reflected illumination from one or more objects in the coverage zone and an imager comprising an array of pixels for receiving images from the coverage zone via the optics device. The imager captures images from the coverage zone and the collected reflected illumination from the objects in the coverage zone. The system further includes a processor for processing the received images and the reflected illumination signals. The processor determines range to an object in the coverage zone based on a location of the pixels in the imager detecting the reflected illumination. | 06-09-2011 |
| 20110133755 | System and Method of Occupant Detection with a Resonant Frequency - An occupant detection system that includes an electrode, an electrical network, and a controller. The electrode is arranged to be proximate to an expected location of an occupant for sensing an occupant presence proximate the location. The electrode is configured to provide an electrode impedance indicative of the occupant presence. The electrical network is coupled to the electrode to form a resonant circuit and is configured to provide a network impedance. The resonant circuit is configured to exhibit a resonant frequency dependent on the network impedance and the electrode impedance. The controller is coupled to the resonant circuit and is configured to determine the resonant frequency and detect an occupant based on the resonant frequency. | 06-09-2011 |
| 20110122583 | IMMERSION COOLING APPARATUS FOR A POWER SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE - An immersion cooling apparatus includes a multi-terminal thermally conductive module that supports and encloses a power semiconductor device and a housing defining a flow-through chamber in which the thermally conductive module is mounted and through which liquid coolant is circulated. The thermally conductive module has first and second oppositely disposed connector headers housing terminal pins or blades electrically coupled to the semiconductor device, and the connector headers protrude through openings in oppositely disposed sidewalls of the housing so that the portion of the thermally conductive module between the connector headers is suspended in the chamber and immersed in the circulating coolant. The thermally conductive module is sealed against the housing sidewalls around the openings, and one of the sidewalls is removable to facilitate installation of the thermally conductive module in the housing or its subsequent removal. | 05-26-2011 |
| 20110121996 | Method and System for Detecting an Occupant Using Reflected Signals - An occupant detection system emits an ultrasonic signal for detecting the presence of an occupant by reflecting the signal off the occupant and then determines that an occupant is present by detecting motion of the occupant. One type of motion that is detected is the small rhythmic motion associated with respiration. The motion detection system improves detection of motion smaller than a wavelength of the ultrasonic signal by shifting the wavelength of the ultrasonic signal to increase the detected motion signal. The system may also determine the presence of an occupant by comparing the motion signal to a motion pattern that corresponds to respiration. | 05-26-2011 |
| 20110121618 | SEAT OCCUPANT DETECTION CIRCUIT ISOLATION FROM SEAT HEATING CIRCUIT USING A COMMON MODE CHOKE - An occupant detection system including a seat assembly comprising a seat cushion having a seating surface, a heating element adjacent the seating surface, said heating element formed of electrically conductive material, a heating circuit electrically coupled to the heating element, said heating circuit configured to supply an electrical current to the heating element effective to generate heat by the heating element, an occupant detection circuit electrically coupled to the heating element, said occupant detection circuit configured to detect an occupant presence near the heating element, and an isolation circuit interposed between the heating circuit and the heating element, said isolation circuit configured to prevent the heating circuit from influencing the occupant detection circuit, said isolation circuit comprising a common mode choke. The common mode choke is arranged so current or charge from an excitation signal for detecting an occupant that is received by the heating circuit is replaced so the excitation signal can used to accurately detect an occupant. | 05-26-2011 |
| 20110121599 | Integrated Center of Dash Food and Beverage Warmer/Cooler - An HVAC system includes a housing defining an auxiliary aperture, an occupant aperture, a circulation aperture, an inlet opening, a drip aperture, having at least one treatment device disposed therein, and defines a pre-treatment space between the inlet opening and the treatment device. An instrument panel has a façade and a backside opposite the façade and defines a passage extending from the façade to the backside and terminates at the housing. An auxiliary article module is disposed in the passage, abuts the housing and has walls defining an auxiliary article compartment, an auxiliary hole, an outer circulation hole, and a drip hole. The holes and their corresponding apertures are aligned and abutting for receiving air and liquid between the housing and the auxiliary article compartment. A circulation duct extends between the circulation aperture and the pre-treatment space for carrying air therebetween. | 05-26-2011 |
| 20110117755 | BUSSED ELECTRICAL CENTER WITH COMBINATION ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL CONNECTION - A bussed electrical center has a power cable for feeding electrical power to the bussed electrical center. A printed circuit board subassembly is interposed between a first housing member and a second housing member that are connectable together. An electrically conductive connector has a prong end and a distal end. The prong end is operably connected to the printed circuit board subassembly. A first fastener and a second fastener are positioned on opposite sides of the first and second housing members. When the first and second fasteners are tightened together to a draw the first and second housing members together to mechanically fasten the bussed electrical center together, the distal end and the terminal end are pressed against each other for electrical connection to each other to electrically connect the power cable to the printed circuit board subassembly. | 05-19-2011 |
| 20110114383 | POTTED ELECTRONIC COMPONENT AND METHOD FOR ITS MANUFACTURE - A method of manufacturing an electronic component assembly is disclosed comprising disposing an electronic component in a housing such that there is at least one void space between the component and the housing, disposing non-conductive microspheres in the void space to substantially fill the void space, and disposing a fluid potting material in the housing and hardening or curing the potting material to pot the component in the housing. An assembly is also disclosed comprising a housing, an electronic component disposed in the housing such that there is at least one space between the component and the housing and the space is substantially filled with non-conductive microspheres, and a material that potting the first electronic component in the housing. The invention enables an electronic component in a housing with a space left between the housing to be potted with reduced formation of bubbles in the hardened potting material. | 05-19-2011 |
| 20110113612 | ENGINE FITTING AND METHOD OF ASSEMBLING VEHICLES - A method of assembling vehicles is provided that includes providing a first engine with a first engine manifold having a first opening, and installing a first fitting in the first opening. A second engine is provided with a second engine manifold having a second opening, and a second fitting substantially identical to the first fitting is installed in the second opening. A seal portion of the first fitting is separated from a body portion of the first fitting at a weakened joint between the seal portion and the body portion. The body portion of the first fitting is then connected with a brake system on a first vehicle to enable vacuum assist of the brake system via a vacuum within the first engine manifold. The second engine is operated without separating a seal portion of the second fitting so that the second opening is plugged by the second fitting. | 05-19-2011 |
| 20110112792 | CURRENT AND TEMPERATURE SENSING OF STANDARD FIELD-EFFECT TRANSISTORS - An apparatus and method of determining the junction temperature (Tj) and drain-source current (Ids) of a standard FET within a multi-FET module includes a control IC managing one or more 3 terminal standard FETs within the same package, calculating Tj and Tds for one or more FETs in one or more packages, and protecting each FET against short circuit faults while allowing high current transients, such as inrush currents from a lamp load. | 05-12-2011 |
| 20110111278 | LOW THERMAL SPREAD BATTERY MODULE - A battery pack assembly having a casing enclosing stacks of cells. The casing defines a plurality of air intake chambers for receiving a flow of air and a plurality of slots diametrically opposite of the air intake chambers for dispensing the flow of air, and the air flows circumferentially through a gap around the cell walls to cool the cells. A plurality of circumferentially and radially spaced flow interrupters are disposed on at lest one of the cell wall and the casing for disrupting the flow of air to increase the heat transfer coefficient of that air. | 05-12-2011 |
| 20110109331 | Method and System for Heater Signature Detection Diagnostics of a Particulate Matter Sensor - A diagnostic method and system is described for diagnosing an operating condition of a conductive particulate matter sensor. The sensor has a substrate with electrical resistance that varies with temperature and two electrodes on the substrate adapted to collect particulate matter between the electrodes, thereby establishing an electrically conductive path through collected particulate matter between the electrodes that can be detected by measuring electrical resistance between the electrodes, R | 05-12-2011 |
| 20110107815 | Method and System for Diagnostics of a Particulate Matter Sensor - A diagnostic method and system is described for diagnosing an operating condition of a conductive particulate matter sensor. The sensor has a substrate and two electrodes on the substrate adapted to collect particulate matter between the electrodes, thereby establishing an electrically conductive path through collected particulate matter between the electrodes that can be detected by measuring electrical resistance between the electrodes, R | 05-12-2011 |
| 20110106448 | Database System and Method of Obtaining and Communicating Data - A database system and method for obtaining and communicating data is provided, wherein the system includes a plurality of mobile nodes, wherein at least a first mobile node has an environmental data collection device, a location determination device configured to determine a geographical location that is associated with environmental data obtained by the environmental data collection device, and a memory device configured to store the environmental data and the associated geographical location. The first mobile node further includes a processor, and a communication device configured to transmit the environmental data and the associated geographical location to a database, wherein at least one of the database and the processor is configured to categorize the environmental data and the associated geographical location, and communicate data that is a function of the environmental data and the associated geographical location to a second mobile node of the plurality of mobile nodes based upon the categorization. | 05-05-2011 |
| 20110106383 | Vehicle Collision Sensing System, and A Method of Operating Same - A vehicle collision sensing system having sensor modules distributed about the vehicle configured to receive initialization signals for coordinating communication with a control module over a time multiplexed communication network that is part of the control module. The control module has a switch that is open when a first sensor module is initialized and closed when a second sensor module is initialized so that each sensor module can be individually initialized or programmed after installation in the vehicle. By individually initializing each sensor module after the sensor modules are installed in the vehicle, identical sensor modules can be installed at various locations about the vehicle and thereafter initialized to make each sensor module unique. | 05-05-2011 |
| 20110102071 | CURVATURE-COMPENSATED BAND-GAP VOLTAGE REFERENCE CIRCUIT - A band-gap reference voltage is developed by a phase-clocked band-gap circuit including a single PN junction through which first and second constant currents are alternately directed. A current proportional to absolute temperature is selectively added to one of the first and second constant currents to curvature-compensate the developed band-gap reference voltage. The band-gap circuit is calibrated at any desired temperature by interrupting the curvature compensation current and trimming the one constant current to bring the un-compensated band-gap reference voltage into correspondence with a nominal band-gap voltage functionally related to the calibration temperature and circuit component values. | 05-05-2011 |
| 20110100775 | MAGNETORHEOLOGICAL (MR) PISTON ASSEMBLY WITH PRIMARY AND SECONDARY CHANNELS TO IMPROVE MR DAMPER FORCE - A magnetorheolgical (MR) damper includes a piston assembly having a primary channel disposed along a longitudinal axis and contained in a cylinder. MR fluid is also contained in the cylinder. The piston assembly having a primary channel, or primary channel MR piston assembly, includes a piston body having a first end axially spaced from a second end and defining a hole therethrough. The primary channel is defined in an outer body surface of the piston body from the hole at the second end to a coil groove in the outer body surface about the axis. A secondary channel is defined in the outer body surface from the coil groove towards the first end to improve MR damper force performance at low primary channel MR piston assembly velocities. | 05-05-2011 |
| 20110095522 | QUICK CONNECTION UNION - The union includes a cylindrical hollow body having at a rear end means for connection to a pipe, and at a front end a tubular nozzle able to be received in a housing formed in a bore on the periphery of an injector, the body bearing means for retaining the tubular nozzle in the housing. The retaining means include two elastic tabs in an arc of circle extending on the periphery of the body concentrically with the axis (A-A) of this. Each of the tabs defines with the periphery of the said body a slot in an arc of circle open on one side. The tabs are able to co-operate with a groove provided inside the bore of the injector. | 04-28-2011 |
| 20110094725 | THERMALLY-PROTECTED CHAMBER FOR A TEMPERATURE-SENSITIVE CONSUMER ELECTRONIC DEVICE - A thermal-protection apparatus disposed in a vehicle cabin or storage compartment includes a housing enveloping a chamber in which a thermally-sensitive consumer electronic device is received, a thermoelectric module mounted in a wall of the housing, and a remote electronic controller and power source coupled to the housing via an electrical cable for activating the thermoelectric module, and optionally the consumer electronic device, in a manner to prevent the temperature in the chamber from exceeding a prescribed maximum operating temperature of the consumer electronic device or falling below a prescribed minimum operating temperature of the consumer electronic device. | 04-28-2011 |
| 20110090027 | STRIPLINE TERMINATION CIRCUIT HAVING RESONATORS - A technique of realizing a termination circuit using coupled resonators in stripline configuration of a circuit presented. The circuit absorbs RF energy incident on its input over a frequency band of interest, and dissipates it in to the dielectric substrate, thereby acting like an effective termination in the frequency band. The resonant elements may be constructed in edge-coupled or broad-side coupled stripline configuration. The technique may be extended to build microstrip line termination with edge-coupled resonators. The technique may further be extended to realize attenuators over a narrow band. | 04-21-2011 |
| 20110089186 | FUEL MODULE WITH PIVOTING COVER - A fuel module for a vehicle has a fuel tank opening cover pivotably coupled to a module housing that holds multiple components including a fuel pump, filter, etc. The housing can be advanced lengthwise through the opening of a shallow fuel tank then turned horizontally to rest on the bottom of the tank, with the cover remaining parallel to the opening such that when the housing is in place in the tank the cover blocks the opening. | 04-21-2011 |
| 20110088885 | MANIFOLD FLUID COMMUNICATION PLATE - A communication plate extends along and is sandwiched between cylindrical communication manifolds of a first heat exchanger assembly and a second heat exchanger assembly. The communication plate includes a saddling surface arcuate in one direction and a saddling surface arcuate in the opposite direction for engaging in saddle-like fashion the cylindrical shape of the manifolds. The communication plate defines a plurality of communication plate orifices disposed along the communication plate and aligned co-axial with a plurality of communication orifices disposed along the manifolds to seal the communication orifices of the manifolds and establish distributed and sealed fluid communication between the heat exchanger assemblies. | 04-21-2011 |
| 20110083324 | SEALED CRIMP CONNECTION METHODS - Methods of making a sealed crimp connection attaching a terminal to a wire conductor are provided. A layer of fluid conformal coating is applied to overlie a terminal and underlie at least a lead of the wire conductor upon at least the lead being received into the terminal. The terminal, the fluid layer, and at least the lead of the wire conductor are crimped to form the crimp connection. Fluid conformal coating is displaced where an abutting surface of the terminal makes contact with at least the lead of the wire conductor. The fluid conformal coating is cured to a non-fluid state. The fluid conformal coating may be formed of an acrylated urethane material that may provide an increased pull force and a low crimp resistance in the crimp connection. The crimp connection may be constructed using a manufacturing process on an automated assembly line. | 04-14-2011 |
| 20110080665 | VISUAL GAP MITIGATION APPARATUS FOR A SEGMENTED DISPLAY PANEL - A transparent bevel apparatus overlays marginal portions of juxtaposed display devices of a segmented display panel to obscure the visual gap between the display devices. The bevel apparatus at least partially overlaps only marginal pixels of the adjacent display devices, so that light from a given display device that passes through the bevel apparatus is bent toward from the respective display device at an angle with respect to the remainder of the emitted light. Consequently, light emitted from the marginal portions of the juxtaposed display devices is seen by the viewer in the place where the visual gap would otherwise be seen. The bevel apparatus may be constructed in the form of a sheet that overlays an entire display device, or all or a portion of the entire display panel, or a narrow strip that is aligned with the seams and affixed to juxtaposed faces of the display devices. | 04-07-2011 |
| 20110075158 | OPTICAL CRASH SENSOR - A crash sensor is provided on a vehicle having first and second vehicle structures. The crash sensor includes a light transmitter for emitting a light signal within an opening between the first vehicle structure and the second vehicle structure, and a photo receiver for sensing irradiance in the opening between the first vehicle structure and the second vehicle structure. A change in irradiance or illuminance is indicative of a change in displacement of the first structure relative to the second structure indicative of deformity of the vehicle. The sensor further includes processing circuitry for processing the sensed irradiance and detecting a vehicle crash based on the change in sensed irradiance. | 03-31-2011 |
| 20110070771 | ELECTRICAL TERMINAL CONNECTION WITH SEALED CORE CRIMP - A corrosion resistant electrical connection structure has an electrically conductive cable with a core made from a first electrically conductive material and an insulative outer cover. A terminal is electrically connected to the core at a lead extending beyond the insulative outer cover. A conformal coating covers and seals the lead of the core not in direct contact with the terminal. | 03-24-2011 |
| 20110070770 | ELECTRICAL TERMINAL CONNECTION WITH MOLDED SEAL - A corrosion resistant electrical connection structure has an electrically conductive cable with an electrically conductive core and an insulative outer cover. An electrically conductive terminal is electrically connected to a lead of the core that extends beyond the insulative outer cover. A molded hot melt seal seals the lead of the core and the terminal interface section from ambient electrolytes. In an exemplary embodiment, the core is made from aluminum or an aluminum alloy and the terminal is made from a copper alloy. | 03-24-2011 |
| 20110068775 | Clutch Position Sensor for Vehicle Transmission - A transmission clutch position sensor includes two Hall sensors located at opposite ends of a flux concentrator outside the casing of the transmission to sense a magnetic field generated by a magnet attached to the clutch piston. To reduce sensitivity to magnet-to-sensor gap tolerances, a ratio of the voltage of one Hall sensor to the sum of the voltages from both Hall sensors is used to correlate to the piston and, hence, clutch position. | 03-24-2011 |
| 20110067239 | METHOD OF MAKING AN IMPROVED ELECTRICAL CONNECTION FOR A SEALED CABLE CORE AND A TERMINAL WITH CONFORMAL COATING - A method of forming a seal about an electrically conductive core of a cable having an insulative outer cover and a terminal includes the steps of providing a lead of the core extending beyond an axial edge of the insulative outer cover; applying a conformal coating onto the lead; crimping the terminal onto the cable while the conformal coating is still wet to displace the conformal coating from between the lead and the abutting contact surfaces of the terminal and to cover and seal remaining portions of the lead not in direct contact with the terminal with the conformal coating and curing the conformal coating over the remaining portions of the lead. | 03-24-2011 |
| 20110067238 | METHOD OF MAKING AN IMPROVED ELECTRICAL CONNECTION WITH SEALED CABLE CORE AND A TERMINAL - A method of forming a seal about an electrically conductive core of a cable having an insulative outer cover and a terminal includes the steps of providing a lead of the core extending beyond an axial edge of the insulative outer cover; spraying a conformal coating onto the lead; crimping the terminal onto the cable while the conformal coating is still wet to displace the conformal coating from between the lead and the abutting contact surfaces of the terminal and to cover and seal remaining portions of the lead not in direct contact with the terminal with the conformal coating and curing the conformal coating over the remaining portions of the lead. | 03-24-2011 |
| 20110063425 | Vehicle Operator Control Input Assistance - A vehicle operating system that assists a vehicle operator with locating a control input of a vehicle device so as to minimize operator distraction when operating the vehicle device. The system includes a camera having a first perspective view of the control input, a display readily observed by the operator, and a processor configured to process a signal from the camera to determine a hand position of a hand approaching the control input and output a display signal having a second perspective view of the control input that is dependent on the operator's hand position relative to the control input. The second perspective view corresponds to that of a virtual camera attached to the operator's forearm or wrist, and so provides a perspective view that is substantially fixed relative to the hand. | 03-17-2011 |
| 20110061489 | ROTARY CONTROL KNOB APPARATUS - A rotary control knob apparatus includes a stationary knob retainer having a cylindrical post and an annular knob that slides over the retainer post, where the exterior periphery of the retainer post has a distributed array of compliant protrusions that contact the inner periphery of the knob to provide a resilient sliding interference fit between the knob and the retainer post. In a preferred arrangement, the retainer is secured against the rear surface of a control panel trimplate, and the knob is axially captured between the trimplate and a retainer flange extending radially outward from the base of the cylindrical post. | 03-17-2011 |
| 20110057757 | IGNITION COIL FOR VEHICLE - A spark plug coil assembly includes a primary core inside a secondary winding spool that is formed with a closed end. A terminal is embedded in the closed end of the spool and the secondary windings are terminated to the terminal, with the terminal being couplable to a spark plug. Ignition voltage generated in the secondary windings is thus routed to a center of the secondary windings to terminate at the terminal. No pole piece need be disposed between the primary core and the closed end of the spool. | 03-10-2011 |
| 20110056449 | IGNITION COIL FOR VEHICLE - A secondary winding spool for an ignition coil has two segments, one residing within a spark plug well and the other having a larger diameter than the well and residing above the well, to maximize exploitation of coil space in an engine. | 03-10-2011 |
| 20110054737 | Stability-Based Steering Control Methods and Systems - A control system for controlling a steering system to maintain stability of the steering system is provided. The control system includes an operating conditions module that estimates at least one operating gain based on an operating condition of the steering system. A blend module estimates a blend value based on the at least one operating gain. A steering assist module generates a steering assist command based on the blend value. | 03-03-2011 |
| 20110050506 | ANTENNA ARRANGEMENT - The present invention relates to an antenna arrangement with a printed circuit board, which has an upper side and a lower side, and an antenna supported by the printed circuit board, in particular ring antenna, which comprises at least one electrically conductive antenna section which is arranged on a narrow side of the printed circuit board adjoining the upper side and/or the lower side. The invention also relates to a process for producing an antenna arrangement which comprises a printed circuit board with an upper side and a lower side and an antenna supported by the printed circuit board, in which process for forming at least one antenna section, an electrically conductive material is attached to a narrow side of the printed circuit board which adjoins the upper side and/or the lower side. | 03-03-2011 |
| 20110050220 | SENSOR ARRANGEMENT - A sensor arrangement and a method for its use for detecting the proximity of a ferrous target, the sensor arrangement comprising a sensor body including a magnetic field source and a Hall effect device, wherein the magnetic field source is an electromagnetic solenoid. The invention has particularly utility, but is not so limited, to the field of fuel injection pumps in which it is necessary to determine the volume of fuel that is delivered to the cylinders of the engine without affecting the operation of the engine. | 03-03-2011 |
| 20110050031 | Method for Reducing Current and Torque Ripple in a Brushed Electric Motor and Motor Employing the Same - A method for reducing current and torque ripple in a brushed electric motor is disclosed. The motor includes a stator and a rotor. The stator includes a brush housing having a plurality of circumferentially spaced brushes disposed about a commutator, each brush having a contact face that is in electrical contact with the commutator, an opposed bias face and a peripheral wall, each brush disposed in a brush pocket having a pocket wall, a base and a bias spring that is configured to apply a contact force to the bias face, thereby urging the contact face into electrical contact with the commutator. The method includes inserting a damper between each pocket wall or respective base and the respective brush. | 03-03-2011 |
| 20110048688 | Heat Exchanger Assembly - A heat exchanger assembly including first and second manifolds for transferring heat between a coolant and a flow of air. Tubes extend between the manifolds for conveying the coolant therebetween. Air fins are disposed between adjacent tubes, and each air fin has a cross-section presenting a legs extending between the adjacent tubes at equal and opposing angles to one another and bases interconnecting alternate ends of the adjacent legs to present a serpentine pattern. Each base extends through an arc between the ends of the adjacent legs and defines a lead-in radius interconnecting each base with one of the legs and an exit radius interconnecting each base with the end of the adjacent leg. The equal and opposing angles are in the range of 1 to 4 degrees. The lead-in and exit radii are in the range of 0.05 to 0.15 mm. The middle radius is in the range of 0.5 to 1.5 mm. | 03-03-2011 |
| 20110043344 | COLLISION SEVERTIY BASED ACTIVATION OF A PEDESTRIAN PROTECTION DEVICE - A method and a system on a vehicle for activating a pedestrian protection device that has one or more sensors coupled to a fascia of the vehicle and activates the pedestrian protection device if the signal from a sensor is greater than a minimum threshold and less than a maximum threshold. Coupling the one or more sensors to the fascia improves sensitivity for detecting a collision with a pedestrian when compared to systems that do not couple the sensors to the fascia. Comparing the sensor signal to a minimum threshold and a maximum threshold helps avoid inappropriate or ineffective deployment of the pedestrian protection device. When multiple sensors are used, the location of the pedestrian collision on the fascia may be determined. | 02-24-2011 |
| 20110041600 | WIPER ASSEMBLY FOR FUEL LEVEL INDICATION - A fuel level sensor includes a wiper support with metal wiper contacts. A rotatable shaft holds the wiper support and a seal assembly is provided in which the wiper support is disposed. The seal assembly includes a frame and a cover that are sealed together along respective peripheries with the wiper support being sandwiched therebetween. The shaft extends into and through an opening formed in the cover and is rotatable therein with a holder covering an end of the shaft and sealing the opening in cooperation with the cover. The frame is formed with a diaphragm above the wiper shaft that is deflectable to facilitate assembly and allow the sensor to compensate for pressure changes in a fluid tank in which the sensor can be disposed. | 02-24-2011 |
| 20110038739 | VARIABLE STROKE COMPRESSOR DESIGN - A pump includes a piston block defining piston bores, and pistons disposed in the piston bores. A swash device defines a swash bore about a swash central axis (C | 02-17-2011 |
| 20110037530 | STRIPLINE TO WAVEGUIDE PERPENDICULAR TRANSITION - A stripline to waveguide transition is provided that includes a shielded stripline having a transmission line in a dielectric, between two ground planes. The transition includes a stripline patch electrically coupled to the transmission line within an opening of the first ground plane and a stripline impedance matching transformer. The transition further includes a waveguide comprising a waveguide wall defining a waveguide opening. The waveguide is arranged substantially perpendicular to the patch, and the waveguide opening is aligned with an opening in the first ground plane. The electric field of the stripline transitions to a transverse electric propagation in the waveguide. The transition may be integrated with a transceiver and antenna. | 02-17-2011 |
| 20110033084 | IMAGE CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD THEREOF - An image classification system configured to classify a target and method thereof is provided, wherein the system includes at least one light source configured to emit light with at least one line pattern towards the target, wherein at least a portion of the emitted light and line pattern is reflected by the target. The system further includes an imager configured to receive at least a portion of the reflected light and line pattern, such that an obtained 2-D line pattern is produced that is representative of at least a portion of the emitted light and line pattern reflected by the target, and a controller configured to compare the 2-D line pattern to at least one previously obtained 2-D line pattern stored in a database, such that the controller classifies the 2-D line pattern as a function of the comparison. | 02-10-2011 |
| 20110032266 | GLARE DETECTION AND MITIGATION METHOD FOR A PHOTO-SENSITIVE DISPLAY DEVICE - A display device having integral photo-sensors for touch sensing is used to detect and mitigate the effects of veiling glare that obscures information being conveyed by the display device. The photo-sensors are periodically sampled to identify optically saturated regions of the display device. If the saturated regions of the display device are being used to convey relevant information, one or more counter-measures are initiated to mitigate the effects of the glare. The counter-measures may include: increasing the display brightness at least in the identified glare region, tilting the display or its cover lens away from estimated direction of the glare source, re-sizing or re-formatting the displayed information, using an alternate display device to convey the information, and presenting the information with a different layer of a multi-layer display. | 02-10-2011 |
| 20110031726 | INFLATORS AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING INFLATORS - A closure assembly for an inflator comprises a housing and an outlet plate disposed within the housing. The outlet plate has an outlet opening configured to receive a burst disk. The outlet plate is joined to the housing by a deformation resistance weld. The deformation resistance weld is formed by contacting the outlet plate with a first electrode, contacting an exterior portion of the housing with a second electrode, and applying a voltage through the first and second electrodes to adhere a portion of the housing to a portion of the outlet plate. | 02-10-2011 |
| 20110030556 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR GENERATING OXYGEN-ENRICHED GAS - An oxygen generating system includes an oxygen generating unit including a housing having disposed therein i) at least two sieve beds, ii) a piston disposed between and operatively connected to the sieve beds, and iii) at least one magnet operatively disposed on the piston. A coil is wrapped around an exterior surface of the housing and is in operative communication with the magnet(s). The coil is configured to drive the piston along a length of the housing between the sieve beds during at least one stage of an oxygen generating cycle. The driving of the piston is accomplished via an electromagnetic field formed between the coil and the magnet(s). Also disclosed herein is a method for generating an oxygen-enriched gas using the oxygen generating system. | 02-10-2011 |
| 20110025250 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A HOLDING FORCE AGAINST, AND LIMITING IMPACT WITH TRAVEL LIMIT POSITIONS - An actuator includes a motor operated by a controller through a pulse width modulation drive signal applied to a drive circuit that drives the motor. The actuator has an output shaft connected to a coupling structure for manipulating a device such as a variable geometry turbine (VGT) or an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve. The device has a range of motion limited by first and second mechanical stops located at opposing low and high ends of the range. The controller learns the location of the mechanical stops during calibration. An external control unit transmits a desired position to the actuator. A protocol allows the external control unit to implicitly request a positioning mode by virtue of what value range the desired position falls into. The controller is configured to limit the drive signal to a non-harmful level when one of the positioning modes calls for pushing the device against one of the stops. | 02-03-2011 |
| 20110025028 | INFLATORS AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING INFLATORS - A closure assembly for an inflator comprises a housing and an outlet plate disposed within the housing. The outlet plate has an outlet opening configured to receive a burst disk. The outlet plate is joined to the housing by a deformation resistance weld. The deformation resistance weld is formed by contacting the outlet plate with a first electrode, contacting an exterior portion of the housing with a second electrode, and applying a voltage through the first and second electrodes to adhere a portion of the housing to a portion of the outlet plate. | 02-03-2011 |
| 20110020535 | SENSING ELEMENT AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME - Disclosed herein is a method of making a sensing element comprising forming an electrically conductive element, wherein the sensing element comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of Pd and alloys and combinations comprising Pd; and wherein the electrically conductive element is thermally stable at temperatures as high as 1,200° C. | 01-27-2011 |
| 20110017742 | In-Groove Snap Fastener - An in-groove snap fastener for securely connecting two housing members and for providing a substantially air tight seal is disclosed. The in-groove snap fastener includes a first groove member and a second groove member extending from a first housing member defining a groove therebetween. One of the groove members includes a raised surface oriented toward the other groove member and the other groove member defines an aperture. A tab member having an integral tongue portion and a locking portion extends from a second housing member in the direction of the groove. The tongue portion cooperates with the raised surface to provide an interference fit between the groove members forming a substantially airtight seal. The raised surface also urges the locking portion to cooperate with the aperture to secure the first housing member to the second housing member. | 01-27-2011 |
| 20110015804 | Vehicle Threshold Based Synchronous Communication System and Method - A system and method are provided for communicating data synchronously with a plurality of crash sensors onboard a vehicle. The system includes a control unit comprising interface circuitry for communicating with a plurality of crash sensors and providing synchronization signals to the crash sensors. The system also includes a communication bus coupled to the control unit for communicating with the crash sensors. The system further includes a plurality of crash sensors connected to the communication bus for communicating with the control unit. Each of the plurality of crash sensors receives one or more synchronization signals and is capable of transmitting data in response to the synchronous signals. The plurality of crash sensors each comprises logic for comparing a sensed parameter to a threshold and transmitting data when the sensed parameter exceeds the threshold. The logic further periodically transmits data based at least one of a time period and a synchronization count when the sensed parameter is less than the threshold. | 01-20-2011 |
| 20110014825 | ELECTRICAL TERMINAL CONNECTION WITH GALVANIC SACRIFICIAL METAL - An electrical terminal has a copper-based body and a coating disposed on at least a portion of a surface of the body. The coating is a metal selected from a group consisting of zinc, magnesium, a zinc alloy, magnesium alloy or other metal that is more electronegative than aluminum and its alloys. | 01-20-2011 |
| 20110010053 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR END OF TRAVEL HARSHNESS REDUCTION - A control system for controlling a steering system is provided. The control system includes a first module that estimates a command adjust value based on a current position of a hand wheel of the steering system relative to an end of travel region. A second module generates a motor assist command based on the command adjust value to control the steering system. | 01-13-2011 |
| 20110002081 | SHAPEABLE SHORT-RESISTANT CAPACITOR - A method that employs a novel combination of conventional fabrication techniques provides a ceramic short-resistant capacitor that is bendable and/or shapeable to provide a multiple layer capacitor that is extremely compact and amenable to desirable geometries. The method allows thinner and more flexible ceramic capacitors to be made. The method includes forming a first thin metal layer on a substrate; depositing a thin, ceramic dielectric layer over the metal layer; depositing a second thin metal layer over the dielectric layer to form a capacitor exhibiting a benign failure mode; and separating the capacitor from the substrate. | 01-06-2011 |
| 20110000472 | IGNITION COIL - An ignition apparatus includes a core, primary and secondary windings and a loop-shaped magnetic return path structure. The structure includes layers of wound strip steel or wound ferritic wire stacked in an outward fashion. The core is placed in an interior of the loop forming at least one air gap between a core end surfaces and the structure. A combined core and magnetic return path structure includes a continuous loop formed by winding ferritic wire either on a spool or on a mandrel and is then bonded. The bonded winding is cut to form two C-shaped portions. Each C-shaped portion has a central yoke that extends into a pair of parallel legs. The C-shaped portions are re-assembled over primary and second windings so that the legs form a pair of parallel branches. One branch acts as the core and the other branch acts as the magnetic return path. | 01-06-2011 |
| 20100328545 | RECEIVER SYSTEM AND METHOD OF RECEIVING A BROADCAST TO PROVIDE A CONTENT OUTPUT - A receiver system and method of receiving a plurality of channels to provide a content output are provided, the system including at least one antenna configured to receive a plurality of channels, each channel of the plurality of channels being at a different frequency. The receiver further includes a tuner in communication with the at least one antenna, wherein the tuner is configured to receive a first channel of the plurality of channels at a first frequency during a first period of time, at least a second channel of the plurality of channels at a second frequency during a second period of time, and provide a content output based upon only the first channel substantially without interruption during both first and second periods of time. | 12-30-2010 |
| 20100323539 | RELAY MODULE, ELECTRICAL CENTER HAVING A RELAY MODULE AND METHOD OF ASSEMBLYING THE SAME - An electrical center includes a housing and a relay module that is disposed in a well of the housing. The relay module has a lower base, a printed circuit board assembly, plug in electronic components and a cover. The lower base includes a tray having a depending shroud at one end portion and a pair of laterally spaced couplers that are integrally attached to an end wall of the tray. The end portion of the tray that has the depending shroud has a plurality of apertures that extend through the end portion of the tray for receiving terminal portions that extend through the apertures. An opposite end portion of the tray has an upper pedestal that is part of a connector body that extends through the tray to a lower socket. The printed circuit board assembly has a printed circuit board that is attached to the top of the tray near a side edge, a plurality of relays that are attached to an upper portion of the printed circuit board. The relays are electrically connected to a plurality of terminals that are disposed beneath the relays. These terminals have portions that plug into the apertures and terminate in free ends disposed inside the shroud. The relay module also includes plug in electronic components that are plugged into the end portion of tray so that their metal terminal tabs extend through the apertures and into the space inside the shroud. The relay module also includes a main relay that is mounted on the pedestal for electrical connection to a wiring harness that plugs into the lower socket of the connector body. The relay module is retained in the well of the housing by an internal lock bar that engages the couplers at one end and an internal lock nib that engages a flexible lock arm of the relay module the other end. | 12-23-2010 |
| 20100321203 | INTELLIGENT USER-VEHICLE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD THEREOF - An intelligent communication system used with a vehicle and method thereof are provided, wherein the system includes a vehicle-installed telematics unit, and a nomadic device in communication with the vehicle-installed telematics unit via a plurality of different communication paths. The nomadic device is modified by including a software routine that is executed to determine which of the plurality of communication paths is to be used based upon a proximity between the nomadic device and the vehicle-installed telematics unit when a user of the nomadic device instructs the nomadic device to communicate with the vehicle-installed telematics unit. | 12-23-2010 |
| 20100319894 | HEAT EXCHANGER WITH A MIXING CHAMBER - A heat exchanger, in particular for a motor vehicle, comprises a collector box and at least one longitudinal row of multi-channel flat tubes through which a first fluid can flow. The collector box is made up of stacked plates including:
| 12-23-2010 |
| 20100313587 | Evaporator Phase Change Thermal Siphon - An air conditioning system including an evaporator having a manifold and a plurality of tubes extending downward in a vertical direction from the manifold. The evaporator defines at least one PCM tank engaging the manifold for storing a phase change material. When operating in a first operating mode, heat is transferred from the phase change material to the refrigerant to freeze and cool the phase change material. When operating in a second operating mode, heat is transferred from the refrigerant to the frozen phase change material to condense the refrigerant. The condensed refrigerant falls downwardly through the tubes and receives heat from a flow of air to cool the air and evaporate the refrigerant. The evaporated refrigerant rises upwardly back to the low pressure of the cold manifold. | 12-16-2010 |
| 20100310414 | HIGH CORROSION RESISTANCE ALUMINUM ALLOY FOR SAND AND PERMANENT MOLD PROCESSES - An aluminum-based casting alloy having improved corrosion resistance and casting characteristics for sand and permanent mold casting processes. The aluminum-based casting alloy contains from about 4.0 to about 7.0 percent silicon by weight, at least 87 percent aluminum by weight, from about 0.25 percent to about 0.5 percent manganese by weight, a maximum of 0.08 percent copper by weight, and from about 0.2 percent to about 0.8 percent iron by weight. | 12-09-2010 |
| 20100304233 | FUEL CELL ASSEMBLY - A fuel cell assembly for using hydrogen gas and oxygen to produce electrical energy. The cathode of the fuel cell produces water vapor to define a flow of moist air including water vapor. A dehumidifier receives the flow of moist air including water vapor to produce purified liquid water and a flow of dehumidified air. The dehumidifier has an air inlet having a first cross-sectional area and an air outlet having a larger second cross-sectional area. The diffuser cavity of the dehumidifier progressively increases in size from the air inlet to the air outlet for depressurizing and cooling the flow of moist air including water vapor below the dew point of the moist air including water vapor to condense the water vapor on the housing of the dehumidifier. | 12-02-2010 |
| 20100302200 | CAPACITIVE TOUCH PANEL HAVING A NON-PLANAR TOUCH SURFACE - An improved capacitive touch panel includes a trimplate defining a non-planar touch surface, a planar array of capacitive sensing elements mounted behind the trimplate, and a formable interface element of high relative static permittivity sandwiched between the sensing elements and the inboard face of the trimplate. The interface element is a compression molded silicone rubber element having a first major surface that is sculpted to match and uniformly contact the inboard face of the trimplate, and a second major surface that is planar and uniformly contacts the planar array of capacitive sensing elements. The interface element has a limited amount of compliance so that slight compression of the interface element between the trimplate and sensing elements eliminates any air gaps between the contacting surfaces. | 12-02-2010 |
| 20100300667 | DISTRIBUTOR TUBE AND END CAP SUBASSEMBLY - A method for fabricating a heat exchanger assembly ( | 12-02-2010 |
| 20100300140 | Air Conditioning System for Cooling the Cabin of a Hybrid-Electric Vehicle - An air conditioning system for use in a hybrid-electric vehicle having an engine and a cabin. The system includes a refrigerant loop and a coolant loop. A phase change heat exchanger including a first tube in fluid communication with the refrigerant loop and a second tube in fluid communication with the coolant loop. The first and second tubes abut one another for conducting heat from the coolant in the coolant loop to the first refrigerant in the refrigerant loop when the vehicle is operating with the engine running. The phase change heat exchanger further includes a chamber abutting the first and second tubes for storing a phase change material. The phase change material conducts heat to the first refrigerant to freeze the phase change material when the vehicle is operating with the engine running and receives heat from the coolant to cool the coolant when the engine is not running. | 12-02-2010 |
| 20100296223 | CONTACT METHOD TO ALLOW BENIGN FAILURE IN CERAMIC CAPACITOR HAVING SELF-CLEARING FEATURE - A capacitor exhibiting a benign failure mode has a first electrode layer, a first ceramic dielectric layer deposited on a surface of the first electrode, and a second electrode layer disposed on the ceramic dielectric layer, wherein selected areas of the ceramic dielectric layer have additional dielectric material of sufficient thickness to exhibit a higher dielectric breakdown voltage than the remaining majority of the dielectric layer. The added thickness of the dielectric layer in selected areas allows lead connections to be made at the selected areas of greater dielectric thickness while substantially eliminating a risk of dielectric breakdown and failure at the lead connections, whereby the benign failure mode is preserved. | 11-25-2010 |
| 20100285378 | PEM-SOFC HYBRID POWER GENERATION SYSTEMS - A hybrid fuel cell system comprising a solid-oxide fuel cell system, a proton exchange membrane fuel cell system, a hydrocarbon reformer and a hydrogen separator. A large PEM provides output power, such as motive power for a vehicle, using hydrogen storage that may be resupplied from a separate hydrogen refilling station or from the onboard reformer. The SOFC is preferably small and provides heat and exhaust water that, when recycled into the reformer, allow the reformer to operate endothermically without requiring atmospheric air, thus excluding nitrogen from the reformate stream. Alternatively, the reformer and SOFC are stationary at a base station and the PEM is aboard the vehicle. The SOFC and reformer have sufficient capacity to recharge hydrogen storage in the vehicle in a relatively short period of time, such as overnight. | 11-11-2010 |
| 20100282619 | AMMONIA GAS SENSORS WITH LANTHANIDE VANADATE SENSING ELECTRODE - An ammonia gas sensor is disclosed that includes a reference electrode, an ammonia selective sensing electrode and an electrolyte disposed therebetween. The ammonia sensing electrode comprises an oxide material characterized by the formula | 11-11-2010 |
| 20100282618 | AMMONIA GAS SENSORS WITH VANADIUM-BASED SENSING ELECTRODE - An ammonia gas sensor is disclosed that includes a reference electrode, an ammonia selective sensing electrode and an electrolyte disposed therebetween. The ammonia sensing electrode comprises vanadium silicide, vanadium oxysilicide, vanadium carbide, vanadium oxycarbide, vanadium nitride, or vanadium oxynitride. | 11-11-2010 |
| 20100282211 | FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM - A fuel delivery system for an internal combustion engine, the system comprising at least one fuel injector, said fuel injector comprising a control chamber having an inlet for receiving highly pressurised fuel and an outlet enabling fuel to flow out of the control chamber into a back-leak passage associated with the fuel injector, wherein the fuel injector is operable between an injecting state and a non-injecting state in dependence on the fuel pressure within the control chamber. The system further includes a pressure regulator for regulating the fuel pressure within the back-leak passage so as to maintain the injector back-leak pressure at a predetermined target value which is below atmospheric pressure. | 11-11-2010 |
| 20100277298 | DETECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD THEREOF - A detection system and method for detecting an object adjacent a vehicle is provided, wherein the detection system includes a plurality of thermopile sensors and a processor. The plurality of thermopile sensors include a first thermopile sensor and second thermopile sensor. The detection system further includes a processor in communicative connection with the plurality of thermopile sensors, the processor being adapted to receive a signal from a vehicle component as to an operating condition of the vehicle, wherein the processor is configured to command at least one of the first and second thermopile sensors to auto-align, and determine a detection of an object that is adjacent to the vehicle as a function one of a plurality of detection modes, the plurality of detection modes being based upon movement of the vehicle with respect to the vehicle's normal operating position. | 11-04-2010 |
| 20100265989 | P-N JUNCTION BASED THERMAL DETECTOR - A thermopile-based thermal detector is provided by a thermocouple, formed from a single sheet of material, which is made dissimilar with a P-doped and an N-doped junction electrically isolated via a naturally forming depletion region. The thermopile P-N sheet is uniform and planar, addressing stress and manufacturing issues. The usual non-active area of a conventional thermopile is significantly reduced or eliminated, and thus the output signal per unit diaphragm area of the detector is substantially increased, without the typical reduction in the signal-to-noise ratio. Also, a significant reduction in size of the thermal detector area is provided without a reduction in signal or signal-to-noise ratio. In an aspect, a second layer of thermocouples is axially positioned over, and connected with, a first layer of thermocouples. Additional axially stacked thermopiles can be provided within the same fabrication process. Signal processing circuitry may be electrically interconnected with the thermocouple. | 10-21-2010 |
| 20100265735 | DISPLAY ASSEMBLY WITH LIGHT PIPE HAVING CENTRAL COMPARTMENT FOR LIGHT SOURCE - A display assembly includes a light pipe that has a front face adapted for emitting light to illuminate a display. The light pipe defines a compartment for receiving a light source. A light shield is disposed overlying the compartment. Channel segments are formed in the rear face and are symmetrical about the compartment. Light from the light source is extracted through the front face to create glow regions about the light shield, over the channel segments, and adjacent the edges of the light pipe. This results in symmetrically uniform illumination of the display while utilizing a single central light source. | 10-21-2010 |
| 20100259035 | INFLATABLE CUSHION ASSEMBLY INCLUDING BREAKABLE TETHER STITCHES - An inflatable cushion assembly includes a tether having an attachment end attached to an inflatable cushion. The tether comprises one or more seams extending along an axis and defining a pocket adjacent the attachment end. The seam includes a series of breakable stitches having a first stitch adjacent a pocket and the series of stitches successively disposed along the axis away from the pocket. A seam ripper is received in the pocket, and secured remote from the tether. Deployment of the inflatable cushion pulls the seam ripper along the axis away from the attachment end to successively break the series of stitches. | 10-14-2010 |
| 20100258656 | MEANS FOR ALIGNING AND PRE-STRESSING COMPONENTS OF A FUEL INJECTOR ASSEMBLY - A fuel injector for an internal combustion engine, the fuel injector being of a type with an open-ended nozzle body adjoining an injector body. The interface between the nozzle body and the injector body is flat, to simplify manufacture, and they are aligned relative to each other using a compression element which is typically a sleeve that extends around them. The compression element also acts to apply a pre-compression to at least one of the bodies to enable the fuel injector to operate at higher fuel pressures than would otherwise be possible. | 10-14-2010 |
| 20100258489 | PURGING ASSEMBLY FOR A FILTER HOUSING - A purging assembly for a fuel filter housing. The purging assembly comprises a shaft having towards an upper end an upper sealing element, located around the perimeter of the shaft, and having towards a lower end a lower sealing element, located around the perimeter of the shaft. A sensor is integrated with the shaft. | 10-14-2010 |
| 20100253535 | VEHICLE KEY FOB HAVING AUDIO FILE STORAGE - A key fob is provided that includes a housing, a key function operative with a vehicle ignition for allowing operation of the vehicle, and a communication link for allowing communication between the key fob and the vehicle. The key fob also includes memory storing audio files. The audio files may be downloaded or streamed to a vehicle via the communication link. The memory may further store saved audio file information, such as music identifiers, provided on board the vehicle and downloaded to the key fob upon initiation by a user. | 10-07-2010 |
| 20100253202 | Ignition Coil for Vehicle - A spark plug coil assembly has a primary core bearing primary windings and a secondary winding spool around which secondary windings are wound and in which the primary core is received. A case receives the spool with core. The entire case can be made of composite Iron to function as a magnetic return path for the core. Thick ends of the case support the ends of the core. | 10-07-2010 |
| 20100252653 | HEATED FUEL INJECTOR - A heated fuel injector includes a fuel inlet for receiving fuel, a fuel outlet for dispensing fuel from the heated fuel injector, and a heated body having an inside surface fore fluidly connecting the fuel inlet to the fuel outlet. The heated fuel injector also includes a hollow pintle shaft that is reciprocably movable within the heated body for selectively permitting and preventing the dispensing of fuel from the fuel outlet. A fuel passage is formed between the inside surface and the hollow pintle shaft such that fuel flows through the passage from the fuel inlet to the fuel outlet. The hollow pintle shaft defines a sealed chamber within the hollow pintle shaft which thereby increases the efficiency by which the heated body can heat the fuel flowing through the fuel passage. | 10-07-2010 |
| 20100252125 | AXIALLY ADJUSTABLE FILL LIMITER VENT VALVE - A fill limiter vent valve (FLVV) adapted for suspension downward into a fuel tank has upper and lower housing members having openings in their cylindrical walls cooperating to define a spill-over level for fuel into the FLVV producing float-initiated vent valve closure during a fuel fill event. The lower housing member has a latching member fixedly engageable with one or more cooperating latching features of the upper housing member in a plurality of relative axial positions; and the spill-over level is varied by relative axial movement of the housing members between those positions. Axial alignment of the latching member and the cooperating latching features is maintained by axially aligned, interacting surface features of the housing members. | 10-07-2010 |
