Abstract: A fault detection system for determining whether a fault exists with a rotating element of a vehicle. The system includes a transducer, a diagnosis sampler, a sensor, and a controller. The transducer may be a microphone located in the vehicle for converting sounds to an electrical signal. The electrical signal includes a noise component generated from the rotating element. The diagnosis sampler is connected to the transducer and provides a sample of the electrical signal from the transducer to the controller. The sensor obtains data relating to the rotating element. The controller has functional aspects such as a synchronous resample, a spectrum analysis, and a fault detect. The synchronous resample has the capability of synchronizing the sample of the electrical signal with the data from the sensor to form a synchronized envelope.

Abstract: A communication circuit places two communication terminals in high-impedance states, senses voltages at the two communication terminals, and determines a communication mode based on the voltages. Thereafter, the communication circuit communicates in the communication mode using the two communication terminals. The circuit is capable of communicating via the two communication terminals in any of a Serial Communications Interface (SCI) communication protocol and a Controller Area Network (CAN) communication protocol.

Abstract: A GPS receiver (26) for processing GPS satellite signals and adapted for connection to a client device (24). The receiver (26) includes a down converter (44), a correlator (46), and a microcomputer A. The microcomputer A has a microprocessor A, a first memory (48A), a second memory (48B, 148B), and an input/output interface (50). The input/output interface (50) is capable of being connected to the client device (24). The first memory (48A) contains a first set of instructions for the microprocessor A to download and store in the second memory (48B, 148B) at least one time critical GPS software module (A1, A2, . . . AN) from the client device (24). The first memory (48A) also contains a second set of instructions for the microprocessor A to determine whether to download and store in the second memory (48B, 148B) a plurality of non-time critical software modules (B1, B2, . . . BN) from the client device (24).

Abstract: A method for closing a motor-driven window is disclosed, including the steps of raising the window after the window has been stopped; evaluating the torque after initially raising the window; and stopping the window if the pinch force exceeds a predetermined limit. Torque is preferably estimated according to the present invention using the sum of dynamic torque, electromagnetic torque, and core loss compensation. Consistent values of torque are estimated during window starts and stops, which is beneficial in providing accurate pinch force measurements and avoiding false pinch indications.

Abstract: A semiconductor wafer (70) that includes a support body (72), at least one thin die (20, 60), and a plurality of tethers (78, 178). The support body (72) is made of a semiconductor material. The thin die (20, 60) has a circuit (21) formed thereon and has an outer perimeter (74) defined by an open trench (76). The open trench (76) separates the thin die (20, 60) from the support body (72). The tethers (78, 178) extend across the open trench (76) and between the support body (72) and the thin die (20, 60). A method of making a thin die (20, 60) on a wafer (70) where the wafer (70) has a support body (72), a topside (82) and a backside (90). A circuit (21) is formed on the topside (82) of the wafer (70).

Abstract: A special dual fuel method and system is provided to enhance vehicle performance and fuel consumption as well as to accommodate a smooth transition when operating the engine on different fuels, such as gasoline or liquified petroleum gas (LPG). When the engine is operated on a different fuel, a filtered oxygen (O2) signal is transmitted to an engine control unit (ECU) which can regulate operation of the gasoline shutoff valve and an LPG valve and responds to the filtered O2 signal and the type of fuel, i.e. mode of operation, selected for the dual fuel engine.

Abstract: The present invention solves the problems of the prior art by providing methods for compensating for temperature-dependent drift of bias in a vehicle heading sensor of a dead reckoning vehicle positioning system. Specifically, the invention uses a Kalman filter to generate a calibration curve for the rate of heading sensor bias drift with temperature change. The Kalman filter calculates coefficients for a model of heading sensor bias drift rate versus temperature at each point where the vehicle is stationary. The bias drift rate calibration curve is then used to estimate a heading sensor bias periodically while the vehicle is moving. The invention further provides a method for using an aging time for temperature sensor bias drift rate to force convergence of the error variance matrix of the Kalman filter. The invention further provides vehicle navigational systems that utilize the methods of the present invention.

Abstract: An inductive load driver having an inductive load and a bridge circuit connected in parallel with the inductive load, wherein the bridge circuit generates a current to the inductive load that rapidly rises.

Abstract: An electronic control unit (ECU) includes a flexible circuit substrate having a first partition interconnected to a third partition by a second, flexible partition. The electronic control unit further includes a rigidizer having a first partition interconnected to a third partition by a second partition. When the ECU is twice folded, the second, flexible partition of the circuit substrate assumes an approximate ‘U’-shape, resulting in a reduced cracking and splitting rate than the prior art. In various embodiments of the present invention, the assumption of a ‘U’-shaped fold in the second, flexible partition of the circuit substrate is facilitated by multiple apertures in a second rigidizer partition, by a depression in a second rigidizer partition, or by non-slidably affixing a first circuit substrate partition to a first rigidizer partition via a first adhesive and non-slidably affixing a third circuit substrate partition to a third rigidizer partition via a second adhesive.

Abstract: An electronic module (20) includes a first circuit substrate (40) and a second circuit substrate (44). The first circuit substrate (40) has a post surface (50) and a post (52) protruding from the post surface (50). The second circuit substrate (44) has an upper surface (46) opposed to a lower surface (48). The second circuit substrate (44) forms an opening (56). The first circuit substrate (40) may be manufactured using a Molded Interconnect Device substrate. The second circuit substrate (44) may be manufactured using a High Density Interconnect substrate. The second circuit substrate (44) is placed on top of the first circuit substrate (40) so that the post (52) of the first circuit substrate (40) is mated with the opening (56) of the second circuit substrate (44).

Abstract: A flexible circuit (100) includes a first circuit path portion (110) and a second rigid circuit path portion (140) to which electronic components (102) may be coupled. Each circuit path portion (110 and 140) including a resin layer (112 and 142) and an adjacent conductive layer (114 and 144). Each circuit path portion (110 and 140) defining a gap (120 and 150) substantially running along a line corresponding to a desired bend location. A central circuit path portion (130) is disposed between the first circuit path portion (110) and the second rigid circuit path portion (140) and includes a first conductive layer (134) in electrical communication with the first circuit path portion (110) and a second conductive layer (136) in electrical communication with the second rigid circuit path portion (140), so as to provide electrical communication across the gaps (120 and 150). A metal plate (160) is disposed adjacent the second rigid circuit path portion (140).

Abstract: A system that detects a motor fault includes a current sensor, a filter, and a controller. The sensor is electrically connected to the filter. A controller tunes the filter to a rotational frequency of a motor and compares a filtered signal to a predetermined value. A method that detects the motor fault condition selects an output signal conditioned by either a band pass filter or a low pass filter and compares the selected output to a predetermined value to identify a motor fault.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for the detection of objects that lie within the path of a motor vehicle includes ultrasonic sensors (20) fitted to either a front or rear surface (14, 18) of the motor vehicle (10). The ultrasonic sensors (20) are adapted to both emit ultrasonic energy and to detect ultrasonic energy. A detection field (32) is divided into a plurality of sub-fields (42-50) and each is illuminated using a different amount of sensing energy in order to detect objects therein.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for time domain reflectometry sensing of moisture in a test material. The sensor (200) having a generally helical shaped electrode (206) and at least one secondary electrode (208) spaced apart from the generally helical shaped electrode (206) to enable the test material to be present in the space (210) between the helical shaped electrode (206) and the secondary electrode (208). A wave pulse generator (202) is coupled to the generally helical shaped electrode (206) and the secondary electrode (208) that results in a reflection of the generated wave from the wave pulse generator (202). Additionally, a reflected pulse detector (204) is coupled to the generally helical shaped electrode (206) and the secondary electrode (208), in which the reflected wave pulse detector (204) receives a reflected wave pulse from the wave pulse generator (202).

Abstract: A snap-fit sensing apparatus (20) for use in automotive applications including a housing (22) having a pair of flexible arms (30), a top portion (24), and a bottom portion (26), the flexible arms (30) extending from the top portion (24) to the bottom portion (26), at least one of the flexible arms (30) comprises a locking flange (32). The sensing apparatus (20) also includes a retaining mechanism (40) fixedly connected with the top portion (24), the retaining mechanism (40) securing the sensing apparatus (20) in place. In one preferred embodiment, the sensing apparatus (20) further comprises a sensor (50) located within the housing (22) for sensing one of temperature and pressure. In one preferred embodiment, the flexible arms (30) are connected with the top portion (24) and the bottom portion (26).