Abstract: A circuit for a combustible gas sensor comprising: a bridge circuit having first and second legs; a first node at a first midpoint in the first leg of the bridge circuit; a second node at a second midpoint in the second leg of the bridge circuit; a first temperature responsive resistive sensor element coupled between the first node and a bottom of the bridge circuit and located in a flow of combustible gas; a second temperature responsive resistive sensor element coupled between the bottom of the bridge and ground and located in the flow of combustible gas; and a voltage control circuit coupled to the first and second nodes and to the top of the bridge circuit for maintaining closed loop control of first and second node voltages at the first and second nodes by varying a bridge voltage at the top of the bridge circuit wherein one of the first and second sensor elements includes a catalyst for stimulating reactions of reactive constituents in the flow of combustible gas.

Abstract: An exhaust gas management apparatus including: a first substrate coated with an oxidizing catalyst, wherein the first substrate includes an axial opening and a body portion radially exterior of the axial opening, wherein the axial opening comprises at least part of a bypass passage; an air source located downstream in an exhaust flow path of the axial opening; an air pump unit responsive to a control signal forcing air through the air source wherein, during an activation of the pump unit, the bypass passage is valved shut; and a second substrate coated with an oxidizing catalyst located in the path of exhaust downstream of the first substrate.

Abstract: A temperature sensor apparatus comprising: a capacitor with first and second conductors and a dielectric material between the conductors; a frequency generator coupled to the capacitor and providing an excitation signal thereto; a processor coupled to the capacitor, wherein the processor monitors a capacitance of the capacitor, converts the capacitance to a temperature signal, and alters a frequency of the excitation signal when the temperature signal passes a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A catalytic converter structure comprising: cylindrical catalyst substrate; a first cylindrical tube covering a first end of the substrate; a second cylindrical tube covering a second end of the substrate; a support mat surrounding a central portion of the substrate and portions of the first and second cylindrical tubes; and a housing having a cylindrical shape, within which the substrate, first and second cylindrical tubes and the support mat are located, wherein the housing has a central body and first and second housing ends, wherein the housing ends each have a first diameter less than a second diameter of the central body, wherein the first and second housing ends engage the first and second cylindrical tubes, respectively. The structure requires few components, is easy to tool and easy to adapt to different engine implementations.

Abstract: A circuit with a built-in self test, comprising: a circuit to be tested; a generating circuit coupled to the circuit to be tested, wherein the generating circuit generates (i) a series of input signals to the circuit to be tested and (ii) a series of reference signals; a space compaction circuit coupled to an output of the circuit to be tested, wherein the space compaction circuit uses a categorized response of the circuit to be tested to compact the output of the circuit to be tested by a maximum ratio and produces a series of output signals when the input signals are applied to the circuit to be tested; an analysis circuit coupled to the space compaction circuit and the generating circuit, providing a signal indicative of error in the circuit to be tested when the output signals fail to correspond to the reference signals.

Abstract: A park brake apparatus for a vehicle electric brake comprises an electric motor having a rotational output shaft coupled to a brake mechanism. Rotational movement of the electric motor in a first direction causes application of brake force in the brake mechanism and rotational movement of the electric motor in a second direction opposite the first direction causes release of brake force in the brake mechanism. An armature for the electric motor includes a plurality of radially extending armature arms. A solenoid has a plunger movable between extended and retracted positions. In the retracted position, the plunger is free of the radially extending armature arms and the armature spins free of the plunger. In the extended position, the plunger engages the radially extending armature arms, locking the armature in place and maintaining a park brake state.

Abstract: An exhaust ball seal comprising: a first flange on an exhaust manifold having first and second first flange ears on either side of an exhaust port; an annular seal having a substantially flat seat on a first axial end, a peripheral shoulder on the first axial end proximate to the flat seat and a convex ball seat on a second axial end; a retainer plate having first and second retainer plate ears on either side of a central opening fitting over the seal and an inner lip engaging the peripheral shoulder; a pipe assembly including: (a) a concave ball seat surface engaging the convex ball seat surface of the seal, (b) a second flange, mounted to a pipe, having first and second second flange ears on either side of the pipe; and first and second retainers passing through the second flange ears and threadably engaging the first flange ears wherein each of the first and second retainers has a retaining shoulder proximate to the first flange wherein the retaining shoulders sandwich the retainer plate ears to the first

Abstract: A sealed connector-to-body interface comprising: a substantially planar body surface; an electrical connector including a housing having a shoulder proximate to one end thereof, wherein the electrical connector is affixed to the planar body surface and the shoulder is aligned substantially parallel to the planar body surface and spaced apart therefrom, wherein the shoulder includes a first shoulder surface facing the planar body surface; and a grommet mounted to the connector extending away from the planar body surface, wherein the grommet includes an annular radially extending wall abutting the first shoulder surface and an annular lip seal compressed between the shoulder and a first side of the planar body surface facing the shoulder.

Abstract: An electrical connector comprising: an outer housing; a cavity within the outer housing; a inner housing within the cavity; a plurality of cylindrical openings within the inner housing, a plurality of conductive female terminals, wherein a portion of each conductive female terminal extends through one of the cylindrical openings; a channel on an end of the inner housing; and a lock bar in the channel, maintaining the plurality of conductive female terminals in place.

Abstract: An exhaust gas management apparatus including: an air flow directing body forming a bypass passage including an inlet end and an outlet end and defining a low pressure region between the inlet end and the outlet end having a first diameter less than second and third diameters of the inlet and outlet ends, respectively; a hydrocarbon adsorber mounted radially exterior of the air flow directing body; an air source located downstream in an exhaust flow path of the low pressure region of the air flow body; and an air pump forcing air through the air source wherein, during activation of the pump, the bypass passage is valved shut at the low pressure region, wherein less air is required to valve shut the bypass passage than would be required at another location within the bypass passage.

Abstract: A brake system control apparatus comprising: a sensor providing an output signal indicative of operator foot force on a brake pedal; an actuator coupled to wheel brake and controlling a wheel brake force applied by the wheel brake responsive to a control signal; a controller coupled to the sensor and the actuator and including a differentiator (60) receiving the output signal and determining a rate of change of the operator foot force on the brake pedal, a comparator (62) for comparing the rate of change to a predetermined minimum, wherein a rate of change above the predetermined minimum indicates a quick application of brake pedal force by the vehicle driver, a brake gain adjuster (64) for increasing a gain of the brake system when the rate of change is above the predetermined minimum, a brake command generator (72, 74) determining a control signal in response to the increased gain when the rate of change of brake force is above the predetermined minimum and responsive to a base gain when the rate of change

Abstract: A process for assembling a porous ceramic coating to a substrate comprising: forming a ceramic matrix tape including a first ceramic powder having a first full density sintering temperature, a second ceramic powder having a second full density sintering temperature and a fugitive filler material; placing the ceramic matrix tape on the substrate; and heating the ceramic matrix tape and substrate to a sintering temperature above the first full density sintering temperature and below the second full density sintering temperature, wherein the fugitive filler material decomposes during said heating.

Abstract: A method of making a circuit with raised features includes the steps of: forming a mandrel having a plurality of depressions therein; coating said mandrel and depressions with a coating that is readily separable from the mandrel and said depressions; forming a pattern of circuit traces on said coating and in a first subset of said depressions; forming a substrate on said traces; adding a material to said coating at least in a second set of said depressions not containing circuit traces; removing said traces, said substrate, said material and said coating from said mandrel wherein a plurality of raised features project from a plane of said circuit traces; and removing the coating from said traces, said raised features, said material and said substrate, wherein a first subset of said raised features comprises conductive raised features and wherein a second subset of said raised features comprises nonconductive raised features.

Abstract: A catalytic converter substrate comprising: a plurality of cell groups, each cell group comprising a plurality of air-flow cells extending axially through the substrate, each cell group comprising a first set of walls defining a radially outer periphery thereof and a second set of walls suspended by the first set of walls partitioning the individual air-flow cells from each other, wherein the first set of walls has a first effective thermal mass and the second set of walls has a second effective thermal mass, wherein the first effective thermal mass is greater than the second effective thermal mass.

Abstract: A vehicle power steering system comprising: an electronic controller; an electromagnetic mechanism controllably coupled to the microprocessor and mechanically coupled to the power steering system, wherein torque output from the electromagnetic mechanism is coupled to the power steering system; and a hydraulic assist unit including a controllable valve coupled to the controller, wherein the hydraulic assist unit provides assist torque responsive to the control of the controllable valve.

Abstract: An exhaust management system comprising a catalytic converter having a catalyst operative to reduce HC emissions from a flow of exhaust gas from an automotive internal combustion engine when the catalyst is above a light-off temperature and a heater assembly mounted in the flow of exhaust gas, upstream of the catalyst and exterior of the catalytic converter, wherein the heater assembly includes an electric heater located more than one inch from a front surface of the catalyst.

Abstract: A brake control system method according to the steps of: determining driver commanded yaw rate; measuring actual yaw rate; determining a yaw rate error; determining, in response to vehicle conditions, a yaw rate dead band wherein the yaw rate dead band varies with vehicle conditions; comparing the yaw rate error to the dead band; and if the yaw rate error exceeds the dead band, controlling the vehicle responsive to the yaw rate error, wherein yaw rate control only occurs when the yaw rate error exceeds the dead band.

Abstract: A temperature sensor comprising: a hollow tube with a first end and a second end, wherein the second end is closed sealing a cavity within the tube from an environment outside of the tube and wherein the first end has an exterior cylindrical surface; a temperature responsive sensing element within the tube proximate to the second end; a glass cylinder having an inner cylindrical surface in sealing engagement with the exterior cylindrical surface of the first end of the tube; and a sensor housing having an inner cylindrical cavity bounded by an inner cylindrical wall, wherein an outer cylindrical surface of the glass cylinder is sealingly engaged with the inner cylindrical wall.

Abstract: A sensor with a glass seal between a planar sensing element in a tubular housing and the tubular housing, wherein the glass seal is maintained in radial compression over an entire temperature operating range of the sensor. The compressed seal has improved strength and durability, is self-limiting and is operable over a large temperature range and in an environment subject to jarring and vibrations.

Abstract: In a vehicle with first and second front vehicle wheels and third and fourth rear vehicle wheels and at least one member of a first group comprising anti-lock brake control and positive acceleration traction control, a brake control method comprising the steps of: determining a desired vehicle yaw rate; determining an actual vehicle yaw rate; responsive to the desired and actual vehicle yaw rates, determining an axle command; responsive to the desired and actual vehicle yaw rates, determining a torque command; applying the axle command during activation of one of the anti-lock brake control and the positive acceleration traction control to one member of a second group comprising (i) the two front wheels and (ii) the two rear wheels, wherein wheel-to-road traction is increased and a difference between desired vehicle yaw rate and actual vehicle yaw rate is minimized; and applying the torque command to at least one of the vehicle wheels independently of the axle command to create a yaw torque moment on the vehi