Abstract: The invention is directed to a device for controlling the position of a steering column of a vehicle. The steering column is adjusted to position the steering wheel in the preferred position for operation of the vehicle by the driver. The device can control the locking mechanism, the vertical position, the depth position or all three features for the steering column. The adjustment for the steering column are made through the use of a human machine interface that allows the driver to use a touch screen or voice commands to control the adjustment features of the steering column.

Abstract: The present invention involves a primary electric assist with a secondary fall back steering assist in the case of failures of the primary steering system. The primary and fall back systems can be steering column or steering rack based or any combination of these two options. The secondary steering assist system is a low cost design that ensures the steering torque levels will not exceed predetermined values. The secondary electric steering assist will usually deliver less than 50% of the assistance that is provided by the primary steering assistance system. This level of assistance by the secondary system is sufficient to provide for safe operation of the vehicle.

Abstract: An interface connector including a circuit board overlay having an interface connector section including opposing sides with electrical contact areas for receipt of one end of a pair of complementary interface connectors projecting in parallel planes and being in electrical communication with one another such that like configured interface connectors may stack together in a substantially aligned arrangement with at least one connector being free to connect to a digital processing or data generating unit. A third connector is provided on one the sides for connecting to a hardware unit to the interface connector and is in electrical communication with both of said interface connectors.

Abstract: A stackable external housing having a modular design for encasing a variety of hardware peripherals within an interior compartment formed by releasably engaging upper and lower halves that receive the hardware peripheral and include several features for nesting adjacent housings against one another including upper and lower interface connector openings and complementary top and bottom surface contours.

Abstract: An anti-lock braking system includes a speed sensor and a central processing unit (“CPU”). The speed sensor includes a motion sensor, an integral processing unit (“IPU”), and a housing which surrounds the motion sensor and the IPU. The motion sensor produces an analog signal as a function of a movement of an object, and the IPU converts the analog signal to a digital signal within the speed sensor. The IPU of the speed sensor transmits the digital signal to the CPU as a function of the analog signal received from the motion sensor. The CPU achieves an anti-lock braking action of the object as a function of the digital signal received from the IPU of the speed sensor.

Abstract: An external casing having a modular design for encasing a variety of hardware peripherals within an interior compartment formed by releasably engaging upper and lower halves that receive an interchangeable interface panel and allow the passage of air above and below the peripheral, thereby eliminating the need for a cooling fan internal of the casing.

Abstract: An external casing having a modular design for encasing a variety of hardware peripherals within an interior compartment formed by releasably engaging upper and lower halves that receive an interchangeable interface panel and allow the passage of air above and below the peripheral, thereby eliminating the need for a cooling fan internal of the casing.

Abstract: An ABS modulator solenoid valve (10), having one electric solenoid (12), in which the valve control piston (14) has a passage (16) therethrough for balancing the pneumatic pressure on both ends (34, 36) of the control piston (14). One end (34) of the piston (14) is disposed in a closed piston chamber (32) while the other end (36) is positioned to contact and position a valve spool (40). The passage (16) extends between the ends (34, 36) of the piston (14). Piston (14) is biased by a spring (50) to a position within the piston chamber (32). When the solenoid (12) is de-energized the piston (14) remains in this position and variable air pressure, from an operator controlled brake valve (126), can be supplied through the valve (10) to a brake chamber (128) for operating the vehicle service brakes. During an ABS application the solenoid (12) is energized to overcome the inlet spring (50) bias and the piston (14) moves into engagement with the valve spool (40).