Abstract: A system for measuring seat belt forces is used to control deployment of vehicle airbags. The system includes a rigid plate member having one end attached to a portion of the seat belt and an opposite end mounted to a vehicle structure. The seat belt is used to secure passengers or an infant car seat to the vehicle seat. A sensor including a strain gage is mounted on the rigid plate between the ends and is used to measure the magnitude of forces exerted on the seat belt by the passenger or car seat. The strain gage generates a signal representative of the tension in the seat belt, which is used to control deployment of the airbag. The airbag is not deployed if the tension in the seat belt exceeds a predetermined limit.

Abstract: A remote signaling receiver system includes a receiver that operates in two different modes of demodulation to accommodate different types of signals from different types of transmitting devices. A first demodulator, preferably an ASK demodulator, is adapted to process signals from a signal transmitter that generates a first type of signal. A second demodulator, preferably one that is not sensitive to amplitude modulation such as a FSK demodulator, is adapted to process signals received from at least one other type of device, which provides a second type of signal. A system designed according to this invention is particularly useful as a remote keyless entry system for a vehicle where one or more sensors are provided on the vehicle to provide an indication of a chosen condition of one or more of the vehicle components.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of compensating for thermal expansion and tolerance variations (wear, brinelling, mounting distortion) in a fuel injector is provided. The apparatus includes a magneto-hydraulic thermal expansion compensator containing magnetically-active fluid positioned in operative contact with the fuel injector actuation element. A electromagnetic coil is provided proximate the magneto-hydraulic compensator. Magnetic flux generated by the electromagnetic coil causes the viscosity of the magnetically-active fluid within the magneto-hydraulic compensator to increase, causing the magneto-hydraulic compensator to become substantially rigid during actuation of the fuel injector.

Abstract: A method and system for determining weight and/or position of a vehicle seat occupant to be used for controlling the reaction of a safety restraint system. A plurality of spaced weight sensors are disposed between a seating surface and seat mounting surface to provide output signals indicative of an applied weight on each sensor. The sensors are spaced such that the sensors measure the weight applied to a seat back and the seating surface. A controller calculates the weight and/or position of the seat occupant in response to the output signals of the sensors. The controller sends the weight and position of the seat occupant to the safety restraint system to be used to tailor or suppress the reaction of the safety restraint system.

Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly includes a sensor assembly that is used to provide data for an occupant classification system. The data is used to determine such characteristics as seat occupant weight and position. These characteristics are used to control deployment of a safety restraint mechanism such as an airbag. The sensor assembly is part of a mat that is placed on top of a foam cushion used to form a seat bottom. Fasteners are used to permanently attach the mat to the foam to restrict lateral and vertical movement of the mat relative to the foam.

Abstract: A system for measuring seat belt forces is used to control deployment of vehicle airbags. The system includes a rigid plate member having one end attached to a portion of the seat belt and an opposite end mounted to a vehicle structure. The seat belt is used to secure passengers or an infant car seat to the vehicle seat. A sensor including a strain gage is mounted on the rigid plate between the ends and is used to measure the magnitude of forces exerted on the seat belt by the passenger or car seat. The strain gage generates a signal representative of the tension in the seat belt, which is used to control deployment of the airbag. The airbag is not deployed if the tension in the seat belt exceeds a predetermined limit.

Abstract: Sensors are mounted within a seat structure for measuring seat occupant weight. The sensors can be mounted in any one of various sensor configurations. So that common hardware can be used for each different sensor configuration, a virtual matrix is created and output from the sensors is mapped into the virtual matrix. The virtual matrix includes virtual cell locations that do not have a corresponding sensor output; i.e., there are fewer physical cells (sensors) than virtual cell locations in the virtual matrix. A weight output signal from each sensor is mapped into the corresponding position in the virtual matrix and the remaining virtual cell locations have values assigned to them based on data supplied by the surrounding physical cells. Seat occupant weight is determined based on output from the virtual matrix and the occupant is placed into one of the various occupant classifications. Deployment force of a restraint system is controlled based on the classification of the seat occupant.

Abstract: A system for measuring seat belt forces is used to control deployment of vehicle airbags. The system includes a rigid plate member having one end attached to a portion of the seat belt and an opposite end mounted to a vehicle structure. The seat belt is used to secure passengers or an infant car seat to the vehicle seat. A sensor including a strain gage is mounted on the rigid plate between the ends and is used to measure the magnitude of forces exerted on the seat belt by the passenger or car seat. The strain gage generates a signal representative of the tension in the seat belt, which is used to control deployment of the airbag. The airbag is not deployed if the tension in the seat belt exceeds a predetermined limit.

Abstract: A fuel injector with a neck at an upstream end and a downstream end located at a distal end from the upstream end, a fuel channel extending from the upstream end to the downstream end and defining a substantially longitudinal axis, and a check valve located in the fuel channel proximate the upstream end; and a fuel rail with a housing defining an opening having a substantially longitudinal axis passing therethrough, and a one-way flow inhibitor is located in the opening. When removing the fuel injector from the fuel rail, reducing leaks by biasing a plunger of the check valve against a seat of the check valve in the fuel injector and biasing a plunger of the one-way flow inhibitor against a seat of the one-way flow inhibitor in the fuel rail.

Abstract: A fuel injector for use with an internal combustion engine. The fuel injector comprises a valve group subassembly and a coil group subassembly. The valve group subassembly includes a tube assembly having a longitudinal axis that extends between a first end and a second end; a seat that is secured at the second end of the tube assembly and that defines an opening; an armature assembly that is disposed within the tube assembly; a member that biases the armature assembly toward the seat; an adjusting tube that is disposed in the tube assembly and that engages the member for adjusting a biasing force of the member; a filter that is at least within the tube assembly; and a first attachment portion. The coil group subassembly includes a solenoid coil that is operable to displace the armature assembly with respect to the seat; and a second attachment portion that is fixedly connected to the first attachment portion.

Abstract: A fuel injector having a fuel inlet, a fuel outlet, and a fuel passageway extending from the fuel inlet to the fuel outlet along a longitudinal axis. The fuel injector includes a body, a needle slidingly disposed within the body and a seat disposed at the fuel outlet. The seat has a plurality of passages, each of the plurality of passages having a central axis having an angle of inclination relative to the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A fuel injector for use with an internal combustion engine. The fuel injector comprises a valve group subassembly and a coil group subassembly. The valve group subassembly includes a tube assembly having a longitudinal axis that extends between a first end and a second end; a seat that is secured at the second end of the tube assembly and that defines an opening; an armature assembly that is disposed within the tube assembly; a member that biases the armature assembly toward the seat; an adjusting tube that is disposed in the tube assembly and that engages the member for adjusting a biasing force of the member; a filter that is at least within the tube assembly; and a first attachment portion. The coil group subassembly includes a solenoid coil that is operable to displace the armature assembly with respect to the seat; and a second attachment portion that is fixedly connected to the first attachment portion.

Abstract: An armature lift assembly for a fuel injector is disclosed. The assembly includes a body having an upstream end, a downstream end, and a longitudinal body channel extending therethrough and an armature/needle assembly which is reciprocably disposed in the body along the longitudinal body channel. The assembly further includes a first tube having an upstream end, a downstream end fixedly connected to the upstream end of the body, and a first tube channel. The assembly also includes a second tube located within the first tube channel and fixedly connected to the first tube. The second tube has an upstream end and a downstream end. The downstream end of the second tube is spaced a distance from the upstream end of the armature/needle assembly approximately equal to a lift distance of the armature/needle assembly. A method of setting armature/needle lift in a fuel injector is also disclosed.

Abstract: A fuel injector for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The fuel injector includes a housing, a valve seat, a metering orifice, and a needle. The housing has an inlet, an outlet, and a longitudinal axis extending therethrough. The valve seat is disposed proximate the outlet and includes a passage having a sealing surface and an orifice. The metering orifice is located at the outlet and has a plurality of metering openings extending therethrough. The needle is reciprocally located within the housing along the longitudinal axis between a first position wherein the needle is displaced from the valve seat, allowing fuel flow past the needle, and a second position wherein the needle is biased against the valve seat, precluding fuel flow past the needle. A generally annular channel is formed between the valve seat and the metering orifice. The channel tapers outwardly from a large height to a smaller height toward the orifice openings.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in components such as servo-valves, regulators and injectors for stabilizing system oscillations. The apparatus includes an armature having at least one groove formed on an exterior surface thereof; a sleeve, the armature being movably disposed in the sleeve; and a spring member disposed in the at least one groove in the armature and in sliding contact with the sleeve wherein the spring member exerts a radially outwardly directed spring force against the sleeve. A method of stabilizing an electromagnetically operated actuator comprises providing an armature having at least one groove formed on an exterior surface thereof; providing a sleeve wherein the armature is movably disposed in the sleeve; and disposing a spring member in the at least one groove in the armature and in sliding contact with the sleeve whereby the spring member exerts a radially outwardly directed spring force against the sleeve.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a fuel injector is disclosed. The method includes assembling a power group assembly with a valve group assembly to form the fuel injector. The power group assembly includes an overmold formed over a coil assembly. The valve group assembly includes a tube assembly formed by connecting an inlet tube to a valve body. The valve body includes a seat, a lower guide, and an armature/ball assembly disposed within the valve body. A retention member can be used to retain the power group assembly to the valve group assembly.

Abstract: A fuel injector for use with an internal combustion engine. The fuel injector comprises a valve group subassembly and a coil group subassembly. The valve group subassembly includes a tube assembly having a longitudinal axis that extends between a first end and a second end; a seat that is secured at the second end of the tube assembly and that defines an opening; an armature assembly that is disposed within the tube assembly; a member that biases the armature assembly toward the seat; an adjusting tube that is disposed in the tube assembly and that engages the member for adjusting a biasing force of the member; a filter that is located at the first end of the tube assembly and that has an integral retaining portion; an O-ring that circumscribes the first end of the tube assembly and that is maintained by the retaining portion of the filter; and a first attachment portion.

Abstract: A fuel injector preferably has a body, a closure member, a piezoelectric device, and a hydraulic thermal compensator. The body extends along an axis. The closure member is displaceable with respect to the body between a first configuration and a second configuration. The first configuration prevents fuel flow through the body, and the second configuration permits fuel flow through the body. The piezoelectric device displaces the closure member from the first configuration to the second configuration. The compensator is coupled with the piezoelectric device and includes a first tube, a second tube, a piston, and fluid. The first tube extends along the axis from a first end portion that occludes the first tube. The first end portion contiguously engages a first one of the body, the closure member, and the piezoelectric device. The second tube is telescopically received in the first tube.

Abstract: A fuel injector has a fuel inlet, a fuel outlet, and a fuel passageway extending along an axis between the fuel inlet and the fuel outlet. The fuel injector comprises a body, an armature, a spring, and a spring stop. The body has an inlet portion, an outlet portion, and a passage disposed between the inlet portion and the outlet portion. The armature is disposed within the passage and is displaceable along the axis relative to the body. The spring is disposed within the passage and applies a biasing force to the armature. The spring has a first end disposed proximate the armature and a second end opposite from the first end. The spring stop is disposed within the passage and has a first and second portion. The first portion includes at least one projection engaging the passage. The at least one projection extends obliquely with respect to the axis and in a direction general toward the inlet portion.

Abstract: An improved magnetostrictive actuator is provided. The actuator includes combinations of magnetostrictive alloy compositions and prestress values to provide improved temperature response for automotive applications, such as fuel injectors, without the need for complex electronic controls.