Abstract: A control module for a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system for a vehicle is disclosed, the module includes a thermal energy exchanger having a phase change material disposed therein, whereby the phase change material is directly cooled and recharged by a fluid from a refrigeration system.

Abstract: A control module for a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system for a vehicle is disclosed, the module including a thermal energy exchanger having a phase change material disposed therein, whereby the phase change material is cooled and recharged by at least one of a flow of air from an evaporator and a fluid from a refrigeration system.

Abstract: A heat exchanger for a vehicle is shown, wherein the heat exchanger includes a plurality of tubes having integrated thermoelectric devices disposed thereon to facilitate heat transfer between the tubes and an atmosphere surrounding the tubes.

Abstract: A heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system for a hybrid vehicle is disclosed, the HVAC system including at least one thermoelectric device for providing supplemental heating and cooling for air supplied to a passenger compartment of the vehicle to maximize an efficiency of operation of the hybrid vehicle during operation of the HVAC system.

Abstract: A solder reflow oven comprises a reflow zone for heating a workpiece using heated air to a temperature effective to reflow solder. The reflow zone comprises a nozzle having divergent vanes that direct shear layers into neighboring zones to extend the distance over which the workpiece is heated to effective solder reflow temperatures.

Abstract: A solder flow oven comprises a reflow zone for heating a workpiece using heated air to a temperature effective to reflow solder. The reflow zone comprises a nozzle having divergent vanes that direct shear layers into neighboring zones to extend the distance over which the workpiece is heated to effective solder reflow temperature.

Abstract: A system and method for reflowing solder to interconnect a plurality of electronic components (24) to a substrate (12) is disclosed. The system includes an oven for preheating the substrate (12) and the plurality of electronic components (24) disposed thereon, a supplemental heat source disposed in the oven for providing additional heat energy to reflow the solder (72), a pallet (14) for supporting the substrate (12), wherein the pallet (14) has at least one internal cavity (40), and a phase-transition material (42) disposed within the cavity (40) for absorbing heat from the pallet (14).

Abstract: In conventional ETM circuit structures a pin connector in which the pin is etched from the ETM substrate and the mating cavity is etched from the ETM substrate to be mated. The connector utilizes the subtractive ETM structure processing to define any one of several pin-cavity configurations. The pin serves as an anchor with the metallurgical bonds with solder in the cavity that forms on the copper surfaces of the ETM circuit structure to give good mechanical strength to the connection. In particular four different configurations of interconnections are shown and described.

Abstract: A braking unit is provided. In one embodiment, the braking unit comprises a base member, a guide member, a flexible rod, an actuator adapted to induce deformation of the rod, and a brake pad. One end of the flexible rod is fixedly attached to the base member while another end is slideably disposed within a passageway defined by the guide member. The brake pad is positioned adjacent the flexible rod such that deformation of the rod causes lateral movement of the brake pad. The braking unit can be incorporated into disc and drum-type braking assemblies and systems.

Abstract: A vent assembly that can be concealed when in a closed configuration is provided in one embodiment, the vent assembly comprises a base member and a guide member secured to a mounting surface of a duct or other passageway. A flexible rod is fixedly attached to the base member and slideably disposed within a channel defined by the guide member. A panel is disposed on or around the flexible rod and between the base and guide members. An actuator is able to deform the rod such that the panel moves away from the terminal opening of the duct, thereby opening the vent. A fluid distribution system incorporating vent assemblies in accordance with the present invention is also provided.

Abstract: A container holder for receiving and securing a container is provided. In a preferred embodiment, the container holder comprises a base surface, at least one moldline structure unit, and a sensor. The sensor detects the presence of the container in the holder and induces deformation in the moldline structure unit such that the container is secured in the holder.

Abstract: A multi-layer circuit board with heat pipes and a method forming a multi-layer circuit board with heat pipes is disclosed. The circuit board includes a heat pump which communicates with the heat pipe to circulate an amount of cooling material within the heat pipe effective to efficiently dissipate heat from the circuit board.

Abstract: A multilayer circuit board having air bridge crossover structures and an additive method for producing the same, wherein the circuit includes specially designed metallic fortifying layers to mechanically and/or electrically fortify the circuit.

Abstract: A tri-metallic material for use in the manufacture of printed circuit boards is described, and the process for its manufacture is described. The tri-metallic material is a sandwich wherein a copper layer is essential the “bread” of the sandwich and an aluminum layer is the filling between both slices of bread. A metallic bonding and/or barrier layer is spread on the aluminum and is selected for its highly non-corrosive properties as well as its bonding, and diffusion inhibiting capabilities.

Abstract: A method for forming sets of tri-metal material involving the use of cladding mills. When multiple sets of tri-metal material are formed, the outside surfaces of each set is prepared by oxidation to prevent each set from adhering to the set above or below. An alternative to oxidation is to provide a removable layer on the outside surface of the tri-metal material. Alternatively bonding materials may be used on the intermediate surfaces; such bonding materials can be selected from a group consisting of tin, nickel, titanium, chromium, silver and zinc.

Abstract: A multilayer circuit board having air bridge crossover structures and an additive method for producing the same, wherein the circuit includes specially designed metallic fortifying layers to mechanically and/or electrically fortify the circuit.

Abstract: A method for producing an electronic circuit assembly (e.g., a circuit board) from an etched tri-metal-layer structure which provides air bridge crossovers and specially designed bumps etched from a middle layer of the tri-metal-layer structure. The bumps are formed at particular circuit locations in order to provide interconnects for (1) heavy wirebonding, (2) fine wirebonding, or (3) direct chip attachment; or, to provide (4) lifters for assuring a minimum solder joint standoff height or (5) barriers for retarding solder joint crack propagation.

Abstract: A multilayer circuit board having strengthened air bridge crossover structures, and additive and subtractive methods for producing the same, wherein the circuit includes specially designed metallic fortifying layers to mechanically and/or electrically fortify the circuit. A preferred embodiment includes air bridge structures having generally T-shaped cross-sections, which provide strengthened, mechanically robust air bridges which are especially resistant to damage from flexure and displacement due to physical impact, bending, thermal excursions, and the like.

Abstract: A braking unit is provided. In one embodiment, the braking unit comprises a base member, a guide member, a flexible rod, an actuator adapted to induce deformation of the rod, and a brake pad. One end of the flexible rod is fixedly attached to the base member while another end is slideably disposed within a passageway defined by the guide member. The brake pad is positioned adjacent the flexible rod such that deformation of the rod causes lateral movement of the brake pad.

Abstract: A nozzle 10 which receives first and second materials 24, 30 and which has an outlet aperture 18. The first material 24 is received within the outlet aperture 18 and is atomized by the second material 30 within the outlet aperture 18 before it is emitted from the nozzle 10 and applied to a targeted location and/or object 26.