Abstract: An interference detection assembly is disclosed for detecting interference generated from a plurality of signals received by a receiver having a single output signal, the interference detection assembly including a synchronous demodulator having an input line electrically connected to a receiver to receive the single output signal therefrom, the synchronous demodulator converting the single output signal to generate an intermediate frequency signal, the synchronous demodulator having a Q-channel output transmitting a phase of the single output signal out therefrom, and a pilot detector electrically connected to the Q-channel output to receive the phase of the output signal to detect interference.

Abstract: A method for heating a glass sheet includes the steps of heating a glass sheet to a first predetermined temperature and applying microwave energy to the glass sheet to heat the glass sheet to at least a second predetermined temperature to allow the glass sheet to be formed.

Abstract: A method (42) is disclosed for detecting the usage of a heater (31) in a block (30) of an internal combustion engine (11). The method (42) uses temperature measurements of the engine coolant and any ambient air used to create the air/fuel mixture. Based on the difference between the temperatures, the temperatures are weighted and added to create a temperature variable. The temperature variable is used by the electronic engine control module (34) to create an air/fuel mixture which will allow the internal combustion engine (11) to start smoothly. The method (42) operates on this modified temperature; i.e., the temperature variable, which is not the temperature of the engine coolant, nor the ambient air, and allows for the stoichiometric balance of the air/fuel mixture to be modified to optimize performance of the internal combustion engine (11) during a cold start in cold weather with warm engine coolant.

Abstract: A multiple stage airflow diffuser apparatus for spreading the airflow to provide a uniform airflow in a plenum. The diffuser includes a plurality of diffuser stages positioned in a spaced, nested relationship.

Abstract: A seamless side inflatable restraint deployment system for an occupant seated in a seat includes a side inflatable restraint module attached to a frame of the seat and having an inflatable restraint, a pad disposed adjacent the side inflatable restraint module having a deployment opening therein, and a tear initiator envelope enclosing the side inflatable restraint module and extending through the deployment opening to concentrate deployment forces of the inflatable restraint to form a desired exit location in a seat trim of the seat for the inflatable restraint to deploy therethrough.

Abstract: A heat exchanger assembly includes at least one tube having an internal surface and an external surface, a composition cladding having at least lithium and magnesium applied to either one of the internal surface and external surface of the tube, and at least one component disposed adjacent the composition cladding, whereby the tube and component are joined together during a controlled atmosphere brazing process.

Abstract: A method for identifying a principal tooth in a series of teeth extending along at least a portion of a periphery of a rotatable object includes the steps of rotating the rotatable object, setting a counter to a predetermined value, measuring a first tooth in the series of teeth to obtain a first measurement, adding a qualifying value to the measurement to obtain a qualification measurement, measuring a second tooth in the series of teeth to obtain a second measurement, comparing the second measurement to the qualification measurement, and identifying the second tooth as the principal tooth when the second measurement exceeds the qualification measurement.

Abstract: A motor control assembly and method of controlling a motor includes a three phase variable reluctance motor. Each phase includes two separate coils driven by separate driver circuits under the control of a microcomputer. The microcomputer monitors feedback from each driver circuit to determine faults or errors in the driver circuits or respective coils. In the case of a fault detection, one of the driver circuits and coils for each phase may be disabled to allow continued operation of the motor with the remaining driver circuits and coils.

Abstract: A door reinforcement system for closing an aperture in a side of a body of a pick-up truck includes a first door and a second door pivotally connected to the body and joined pillarlessly between an open position and a closed position, a vertical reinforcement beam disposed within one of the first door and the second door, and a door latch striker connected directly to the vertical reinforcement beam and a door latch connected to the other one of the first door and the second door to engage the door latch striker to resist inward movement of the first door and second door from the closed position with respect to the body of the pick-up truck.

Abstract: A heat exchanger acting as a condenser having a plurality of tubes for cooling a refrigerant flowing through the tubes to condense the vapor phase of the refrigerant to a liquid is shown wherein the condenser has a plurality of headers having baffles and/or phase separators positioned therein. The refrigerant strikes a side wall of one of the headers and respective phases are separated by gravity. Additionally, phase separators may be used to selectively route the vapor and liquid phases to specific locations in the heat exchanger. By-pass lines are used to transfer the non-productive phase to a specific location in the heat exchanger.

Abstract: An alternator for use with a motor vehicle including a housing. A separator plate is positioned within said housing to define front and rear air control volumes. A plurality of fans draw air through the respective front and rear air control volumes to cool the alternator during operation.

Abstract: A method for detecting an electrical connection between an antenna system and a receiver for a motor vehicle, the receiver having an automatic gain control with a variable impedance and a PIN diode connected therebetween, includes the steps of increasing the variable impedance of the automatic gain control, measuring signal strength of a signal received from the antenna system, decreasing the variable impedance of the automatic gain control, measuring the signal strength of the signal receiving from the antenna system, correlating the signal strength to the variable impedance to generate a correlation, and determining whether the antenna system is electrically connected to the receiver based on the correlation of the signal strength to the variable impedance.

Abstract: An airflow diffuser apparatus for controlling the airflow exiting a filter unit used in a paint booth. The airflow diffuser apparatus includes a diffuser formed of a plate positioned underneath the filter unit to diffuse the airflow exiting the filter unit to provide a more uniform airflow in the paint booth.

Abstract: A conductive fin for a heat exchanger includes an elongated fin member having two rows of tube receiving apertures extending through the fin member. The fin member includes two rows of raised members located on either side of a centerline bisecting the fin member so as to form a series of closely spaced pairs of raised members located between any two tube receiving apertures and being symmetrical about the centerline and defining two openings with one opening being larger than the other. Each of the raised members defines a pair of legs extending from the plane of the fin member and is positioned to channel air into the space between each respective pair of tube receiving apertures so as to increase the coefficient of heat transfer therebetween without increasing air pressure drop across the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for dynamically testing a radio system having output terminals connectable to a speaker system in a motor vehicle wherein the method utilizes a dynamometer, a transverse electromagnetic cell, a signal generator and a signal analyzer and includes the steps of placing the motor vehicle in the transverse electromagnetic cell, connecting the output terminals to the signal analyzer, operating the motor vehicle on the dynamometer inside the transverse electromagnetic cell, generating a signal using the signal generator, transmitting the signal from the signal generator to the transverse electromagnetic cell, emitting the signal onto the motor vehicle, and measuring an output signal generated by the radio system at the output terminals using the signal analyzer.

Abstract: A method for identifying engine combustion failure of an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders, a crankshaft and a crankshaft position sensor includes the steps of operating the internal combustion engine to rotate the crankshaft, measuring rotational quantities of the crankshaft corresponding to events created by each of the plurality of cylinders during operation of the internal combustion engine, correcting the rotational quantities measured to remove periodic position irregularities to generate a corrected temporal signal, generating an acceleration signal of the crankshaft using the corrected temporal signals, and identifying combustion failures as a function of the acceleration signal. A time-lagged recurrent neural network utilizes the acceleration signal, along with other engine parameters to identify the cylinder-specific misfire events.

Abstract: A method for determining a center position of a vehicle steering system, said method comprising the steps of reading a plurality of predetermined inputs. The method includes the steps of roughly estimating a center position of the vehicle steering system after the vehicle begins moving based upon the read predetermined inputs and determining whether the steering wheel of the vehicle steering system is approximately straight. The method further includes the steps of accurately estimating a center position of the vehicle steering system if the steering wheel of the vehicle steering system is approximately straight and concluding that the accurately estimated center position is the center position of the vehicle steering system if the steering wheel of the vehicle steering system is approximately straight and Concluding that the roughly estimated center position is the center position of the vehicle steering system if the steering wheel of the vehicle steering system is not approximately straight.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle body structure includes a structural member which forms a load-bearing portion of the vehicle and a trim component mounted to the structural member. A plurality of energy absorbing elements are mounted to the trim component and spaced relative to one another along the longitudinal length of the trim component. Each of the energy absorbing elements have a serpentine shape and extend from the trim component toward the structural member such that the distal ends of the energy absorbing elements are spaced from, but adjacent to, the structural member in non-contacting relationship therewith. The energy absorbing elements are deformable in response to a force which causes the distal end of the elements to contact the structural member to absorb and dissipate the energy generated by the force.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle body structure includes a structural member which forms a load-bearing structure on the vehicle. The structural member presents an edge extending generally toward the interior of the vehicle. A trim component is mounted to the structural member and covers the edge. A high density elastic sleeve is mounted to the edge and spaced from, but adjacent to, the trim component. The edge and the high density elastic sleeve are deformable in response to a force acting thereon to absorb and dissipate the energy generated by the forces.

Abstract: An apparatus for selectively orienting consecutive fin strips relative to one another as a preliminary step in the manufacture of a heat exchanger includes a sensor for sensing the presence of each of a series of fin strips all having a common orientation relative to one another. The apparatus includes an orienting member which receives signals from the sensor as to the presence of each fin strip and rotates each consecutive fin strips in alternating clockwise and counter-clockwise directions to orient consecutive fin strips 180.degree. relative to each adjacent fin strip.