Abstract: A continuously programmable Blind Spot Detection System for vehicles that use continuous vision sensor input to determine lane offset and determine a maximum range limit for radar sensors to define an area of interest for declaration of objects within the blind spot area.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine having electronic throttle control includes an air assisted injector system for directing a controlled amount of air directly to the combustion chamber without passing through the throttle body. A method of diagnosing faults in the air assisted injector system is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of measuring the airflow entering an intake of the electronic throttle of the engine at idle speed with the air assisted injector system operating at a first rate of airflow, turning the air assisted injector system off, measuring the airflow entering the intake of the electronic throttle of the engine at idle speed with the air assisted injector system off, and generating an error signal as a function of the two measured values.

Abstract: A battery assembly 10 including a generally hollow housing 14 and several batteries 12 which are disposed within the interior cavity 16 of the housing 14. Particularly, the batteries 12 reside upon the axis 50 and partition the cavity 16 into a first tapered region 54 and a second expanding portion 56, effective to cause the speed of the air flowing through the cavity 16 to be substantially constant as the air passes the surface of the batteries 12.

Abstract: A transfer case control system or apparatus 10 is provided for use on a four-wheel drive vehicle of the type having a transfer case 32, a front driveshaft 22 and a rear driveshaft 26. Transfer case control system 10 includes a conventional microcontroller or controller 40 having a memory unit 42 and operating under stored program control. Controller 40 is communicatively coupled to sensors 44, 46, 48, and to a transfer case 32. Controller 40 selectively generates a control signal having a proportional term or component and an integral term or component. The control signal is generated to transfer case 32 and controls the amount of torque provided to driveshafts 22, 26.

Abstract: A method for painting a vehicle is disclosed. The method includes applying a first base coat to a first portion of the body of the vehicle and applying a second base coat to a second portion of the vehicle while the first base coat remains unmasked, effective to cooperate with the first base coat to form a line of demarcation.

Abstract: A method and system 10 for reducing cold-start emissions of an automotive vehicle 12 having an internal combustion engine 26. System 10 includes a main controller or control system 14, a variable valve timing system 16, an ignition system 18, a fuel metering system 20, and vehicle operating condition sensors 22. Controller 14 detects cold-start conditions based on signals received from sensors 22, and in response to such a detection, controller 14 generates command signals to said variable valve timing system 16, to said ignition system 18, and to said fuel metering system 20, effective to respectively alter valve timing, spark timing, and said air/fuel delivery of engine 26 in a manner which synergistically increases air/fuel enleanment limits, improves combustion characteristics, and increases exhaust gas temperature, thereby reducing cold-start emissions.

Abstract: A system 10 for synchronizing the phase angle of an alternating current power source (“APS”) 12 with the phase angle of a power grid 14. The system 10 provides for reliable synchronization between the phase angle of the APS 12 and the phase angle of the power grid 14 during both normal and abnormal operating conditions.

Abstract: A servo assembly 22 for selectively engaging a brake band 14 in an automotive vehicle is disclosed. Servo assembly 22 includes a piston 26 at least partially encased in a housing 24 and a first and second supply 111, 132 of hydraulic fluid which selectively actuate the piston to engage the brake band.

Abstract: This invention describes encoding methodology for the encoder assembly 18 which senses position of a shift motor 14 in a shift system 10. The basic motivation is robust operation of the shift system 10 in the event of an open circuit (OC) fault in the encoder output signal bus 20 or any fault in the encoder power supply line 80. It is assumed here that the controller 40 is unable to detect the said faults in a manner that is direct and independent of the sensed position code. The most important aspect of the encoding scheme is that the likely motor positions (main-stop positions) should be assigned as many logically high bits as possible. Next, no main-stop position should look like either Neutral or any of the two adjacent positions when an OC fault takes place in the bus 20. Finally, no position in the complete range of the travel of motor 14 should possess code which is identical to the power loss code (all logical zero's).

Abstract: An anchorage assembly 10 which includes a generally rectangular housing 16, an anchor member 20, and a resilient and deformable material or member 28 which is coupled to member 20 and which engages housing 16, thereby regulating or controlling the movement of member 20 relative to housing 16 and absorbing vibration and impact loads imparted upon member 20.

Abstract: A fuel system 10 which selectively receives and stores volatile fuel. System 10 includes a dynamic seal or air intake inhibitor 26 which is operatively disposed within fuel filler pipe 20 and which minimizes the amount of air ingested by fuel tank 12. System 10 further includes an air separation portion or chamber 16 that includes a recirculation aperture 30 and tapered valve 34 that are effective to automatically regulate the rate of vapor recirculation within system 10 based upon the amount of fuel and vapor within portion 16.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for detecting faults in an encoder used for position feedback as part of a transfer case in an electronic-shift 4×4 vehicle. Encoder signal failures including open-circuit, short-to-ground, and short-to-power faults and encoder power line failure with open-circuit or short-to-ground fault are detected. The methodology ensures that no fault is set due to transients seen immediately after the power-set up in the system or after turning a relay off at the end of a shift. If the relays are off and an intermittent physical fault changes the encoder code, the fault flag is reset by the methodology when the fault disappears. The physical encoder faults which are transparent from the encoder code in stationary motor are detected by an intelligent recursive index-based algorithm which works when a shift is commanded.

Abstract: An cylinder air charge estimation assembly 12 for use with an internal combustion engine 10 having at least one cylinder 14. Assembly 12 dynamically estimates the amount of air contained within the at least cylinder 14 of the engine 10 by the dynamic use of one of two unique air charge estimation techniques.

Abstract: In a multiple-speed grearbox having a selectively switchable dual friction clutches, a first clutch connected to a first input shaft, a second friction clutch connected to a second input shaft, gears belonging to gear pairs arranged on the first and second input shafts and meshing with gears on two countershafts, one of the countershafts provided with an output pinion, the gear pairs including a fixed gear and a loose gear connected selectively with its drive shaft by a synchronizer clutch, two loose gears having with synchronizing clutches arranged between these gears arranged on the first and second input shafts, and two pairs of loose gears having synchronizer clutches arranged between them arranged on the countershaft forming the output shaft.

Abstract: The cargo space of a vehicle bed has a trunk portion, protected from the environment, created therein by cooperation of a removable intersection bed cover, and a movable rear trunk panel on an underside of the bed cover. The vehicle trunk can be accessed through side doors within the sides of the vehicle bed.

Abstract: A four-wheel drive system for a motor vehicle includes a transfer case through which power is continually transmitted to a first drive wheel pair and a clutch that controls a magnitude of torque transmitted to a second drive wheel pair in accordance with an electric current duty cycle applied to the clutch by a control unit that produces an output duty cycle in response to a range selected by the operator, the vehicle speed, and the position of the throttle that controls a power source driveably connected to the input side of the transfer case.

Abstract: An automobile cylinder balancing assembly 10 including a controller 36 which operates under stored program control and which substantially ensures that the torque produced by each of the cylinders 12, 14 is substantially equal, thereby causing the cylinders 12, 14 to be selectively balanced.

Abstract: A differential mounting assembly 10 which allows a differential 12 to be selectively and securely mounted within a vehicle and which substantially reduces and/or eliminates undesirable roll and pitch of the operatively mounted differential 12.

Abstract: An installation and support apparatus or assembly 18 is provided for use in combination with an electric machine 10, such as a starter-alternator, which is adapted to be operatively installed between the engine block 12 and the transmission assembly 16 of a vehicle. The apparatus 18 includes a stationary support member 20, an generally circular seal member 22, and an outer or rotor engaging bearing 24. Member 20 cooperates with bearing assembly 24 to automatically create or form a relatively precise and uniform gap 54 between the stator assembly 26 and the rotor assembly 30 of electric machine 10.

Abstract: A housing for differential mechanism is formed in two pieces using a cold flow-forming process. Each of the housing portions is formed with an internal hemispherical surface, and semi-circular recesses, which when aligned form circular recesses within which a pinion shaft is seated. A subassembly that includes the pinion shaft, pinion gears, side bevel gears, and a thin plastic liner surrounding the subassembly is located within a lower housing portion so that the pinion shaft is seated in the recesses. The upper housing portion is inserted within the upper portion and welded. A ring gear is joined to a housing portion.