Abstract: Real-time video images of a human subject's face are processed by a plurality of classification algorithms developed in an off-line training process to determine the open vs. closed eye state of the subject. The off-line training process utilizes a genetic programming loop embedded within an adaptive boosting loop, and forms the classification algorithms and weighting factors for combining their classification scores. In the real-time process, the individual classification scores are combined and compared to a threshold to determine the open vs. closed eye state.

Abstract: An antenna assembly is disclosed. The antenna assembly includes an externally-located vehicular mirror housing and an antenna assembly. The externally-located vehicular mirror housing includes a cable exit passage. The antenna assembly includes at least one antenna element mounted on a circuit board. The antenna assembly is located within the externally-located vehicular mirror housing. The cable exit passage passes an antenna cable extending from the circuit board and into the vehicle cabin.

Abstract: A receiver is disclosed. The receiver includes a first antenna, a second antenna, a system controller, a national broadcast demodulator, a local broadcast demodulator, and an information output select device. The first antenna for receives a signal from a satellite that contains information of national interest. The second antenna receives a signal from a land-based transmitter that contains information of local interest. The national broadcast demodulator is coupled to the first antenna and the system controller. The national broadcast demodulator provides a first interrupt indicator to the system controller. The local broadcast demodulator is coupled to the second antenna and the system controller. The local broadcast demodulator provides a second interrupt indicator to the system controller.

Abstract: An electronic assembly including a vertical mount connector header is overmolded to form an encapsulated module. Conductor pins retained in the connector header are coupled to a circuit board to support the connector header with respect to the circuit board, leaving an open space between the connector header and the circuit board. The electronic assembly is then placed in a mold for plastic encapsulation. The floor of the mold has a well sized to accommodate the conductor pins and shroud of the connector header, and the connector header has a peripheral flange that seats against the floor of the mold to keep encapsulant out of the well. Encapsulant fills open spaces inboard of the connector header, and a connector insert disposed between the connector header and the floor of the well prevents distention of the connector header and circuit board due to the packing pressure of the encapsulant.

Abstract: A technique for providing management of a motor vehicle information system includes a number of steps. Initially, a wake-up message is received from a portable transmitter. In general, the wake-up message, unique to the portable transmitter, is provided responsive to user activation of a button that is electrically coupled to the portable transmitter. Next, it is determined whether power capability of the motor vehicle is adequate responsive to receipt of the wake-up message. When the motor vehicle power capability is adequate, power is provided to a wireless interface, a vehicle information system and a mass storage device, all of which are located within the motor vehicle. Information is then received via the wireless interface and stored in the mass storage device, when the power capability of the motor vehicle is adequate.

Abstract: An engine data acquisition and control system measures cylinder pressure at a high degree of resolution and then processes it for portions of the combustion cycle of interest for performing combustion calculations. The data are utilized to calculate combustion parameters, and the combustion parameters may be utilized to control the engine's fuel and/or spark timing/duration, and other variables affecting the combustion process. The system architecture provides for acquisition of very large amounts of data without unduly loading the CPU.

Abstract: Electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection is provided for an integrated circuit. Snap back from a lower initial critical voltage and critical current is provided, as compared to contemporary designs. A dynamic region having doped regions is formed on a substrate, interconnects contacting the dynamic region. The dynamic region includes an Nwell region, a Pwell region and shallow diffusions, defining a PNP region, an NPN region and a voltage Breakdown region. In an aspect, the Nwell region includes a first N+ contact, a first P+ contact and an N+ doped enhancement, while the Pwell region includes a second N+ contact, a second P+ contact and a P+ doped enhancement. The N+ doped enhancement contacts the P+ doped enhancement forming the breakdown voltage region therebetween, in one case forming a buried breakdown voltage junction.

Abstract: A vehicle disable system including an onboard computer linked to a throttle control relay. The onboard computer is capable of communicating to a remote control center by way of telecommunications link. If certain security protocols are breached, the control center communicates a shutdown command to the vehicle by way of the telecommunications link and the vehicle initiates a shutdown procedure for incapacitating the vehicle throttle controls.

Abstract: An antenna system includes a detachable assembly including a circuit board that is connected to a cover by a resilient member. A bezel is adhesively attached to the glass of a vehicle having conductive antenna elements on the vehicle glass. The bezel includes guide surfaces and locating surfaces that accurately position the circuit board and antenna feed wire relative to the vehicle glass. The cover and circuit board can be detached from the bezel for servicing of the circuit board, and the guide and locating surfaces of the bezel provide for accurate positioning of a replacement detachable upper assembly during servicing/repair of the antenna system.

Abstract: A technique for reducing multipath distortion in an FM receiver, with a plurality of switchable antennas, provides a fast distortion detector that monitors a received signal for significant distortion events of less than about 15 microseconds in duration. In response to a multipath event, the output of the fast distortion detector initiates a search for a lower distortion (better quality) antenna. To prevent frequent antenna searches from causing an audible disturbance, a threshold is introduced to desensitize the fast distortion detector. Threshold decay is a function of an overall received RF signal level. A slow distortion detector is also provided that measures distortions of the received signal relating to signal quality.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for improved monitoring and controlling of mechanically commutated DC motors. The system and method include DC motors, pulse-count driver circuitry for driving the motors, motor position sensing circuitry, and motor control circuitry. The system and method provide for improved motor current waveform sensing that is able to effectively reject false brake pulses, avoid erroneous processing due to fluctuating battery voltage levels, and reduce the sensitivity to variations in motor current signals due to dynamic motor load, manufacturing variation, system aging, temperature, brush bounce, EMI, and other factors. The system and method also include an improved ability to multiplex additional external motor drivers to the motor control circuitry, select between sequential and simultaneous drive modes using an SPI bit, and monitor the system controller for an error condition and simultaneously driver motors in response to the error condition.

Abstract: A high-frequency Electromagnetic Bandgap (EBG) device, and a method for making the device are provided. The device includes a first substrate including multiple conducting vias forming a periodic lattice. The vias of the first substrate extend from the lower surface of the first substrate to the upper surface of the first substrate. The device also includes a second substrate having multiple conducting vias forming a periodic lattice. The vias of the second substrate extend from the lower surface of the second substrate to the upper surface of the second substrate. The second substrate is positioned adjacent to, and overlapping, the first substrate, such that the lower surface of the second substrate is in contact with the upper surface of the first substrate, and such that a plurality of vias of the second substrate are in contact with a corresponding plurality of vias of the first substrate.

Abstract: Although current radio receivers support playback of audio from multiple sources, none support easy searching for content across these sources. There is no mechanism for locating specific content independent of the source that it is found on. The invention is to have an entertainment system which utilizes metadata to offer a feature that will allow the user to listen to any audio source based on their listening preference. This invention also allows the user of a radio receiver to be able to easily locate music of a particular genre without regard to the actual source. This invention further provides a mechanism for the music stored on a hard drive to be used to create a personalized radio station, complete with inserts of localized information.

Abstract: The face of a human subject is alternately illuminated by first and second sources of active illumination disposed above and below a video camera that captures images of the subject's face. Glare due to reflection of the active illumination from eyeglasses worn by the subject shifts up or down from one image to the next due to the different locations of the first and second sources. Eye detection and tracking routines ignore images in which the eye is occluded by eyeglass glare so that the glare does not interfere with the performance of the routines.

Abstract: A circuit board assembly that makes use of a low-temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) substrate, and a process for producing the assembly. The substrate contains at least first and second regions formed by a plurality of first ceramic layers and at least one second ceramic layer, respectively, that are superimposed and bonded to each other. Conductor lines are present on at least some of the first ceramic layers so as to be between adjacent pairs of the layers. Electrically-conductive vias electrically interconnect the conductor lines on different first ceramic layers, and a surface-mount IC device is mounted to the substrate. The first ceramic layers are formed of electrically-nonconductive materials, while the one or more second ceramic layers contain thermally-conductive particles dispersed in a matrix of electrically-nonconductive materials, such that the one or more second ceramic layers are more thermally conductive than the first ceramic layers.

Abstract: A distributed array of force sensors disposed in the inner lining of a safety helmet measure forces between the inner periphery of the helmet and a user's head, and a microcontroller responsive to the force measurements and other sensor data determines if the helmet fits the user properly. The force sensors are preferably provided at the front, back, sides and top of the inner lining, and the microcontroller compares the measured forces to calibrated threshold values to evaluate and indicate the fit of the helmet.

Abstract: An electrical connector capable of being sealingly connected to a housing structure by using a friction stir welding technique includes a polymeric electrical connector harness, at least one electrical conductor extending through the electrical connector harness, and a welding strip sealingly connected around a perimeter of the electrical connector harness to facilitate welding of the electrical connector to a housing structure, such as a sealed metal housing, to sealingly close an opening defined in the housing structure. The electrical connector can be used in a process that creates a hermetic seal between the connector and the housing structure, eliminates the need for mechanical fasteners and/or adhesives, and/or reduces capital equipment and energy costs.

Abstract: An enclosure for electronic circuitry is provided which has a first housing member having at least one protrusion formed in a wall and a second housing member having at least one slot for receiving the at least one protrusion and securing the second housing member to the first housing member. The second housing member and the first housing member have one or more continuous electrical ground contact surfaces. The second housing member is secured to the first housing member so that there is an interference fit between the at least one protrusion and at least one slot and so that there are one or more continuous electrical ground contact surfaces between the first housing member and the second housing member. A method of assembling an enclosure for electronic circuitry is provided.

Abstract: An RF receiver system is provided having a plurality of selectable antennas. The system includes a receiver for receiving RF signals from one of the plurality of antennas at a time. The receiver includes processing circuitry for processing the RF signals and generating a control signal to control selection of one of the antennas at a time. The system further includes a switched diversity module having a plurality of switches coupled to the plurality of antennas for selecting one of the antennas at a time. The switched diversity module further includes logic receiving the control signal generated by the receiver and generating logic output signals to control selection of one of the antennas at a time.

Abstract: A power semiconductor die is sandwiched between upper and lower heat conducting laminate structures to form a surface mount component that is configured for double-sided cooling. The upper heat conducting laminate structure electrically couples top-side die terminal(s) to conductors formed on the inboard face of the lower heat conducting laminate structure, and all of the die terminals are electrically coupled to conductors formed on the outboard face of the lower heat conducting laminate structure. The die package can be placed in a test fixture for full power testing, and when installed in an electronic assembly including a circuit board and upper and lower heatsinks, the die is thermally coupled to the upper heatsink through the upper heat conducting laminate structure, and to the lower heatsink through the circuit board and the lower heat conducting laminate structure.