Abstract: An improved automotive occupancy sensor (AOS) system comprising a linear or spaced array of ultrasound (US) transducers mounted adjacent the headliner of a vehicle to direct an array of US beams to define a preselected occupancy zone adjacent a seat of the vehicle. The AOS electronics may be integrally packaged with the transducer array and flush mounted within the headliner. The array permits occupancy state to be determined by a AOS classification algorithm and method using only or US echo range data, thereby reducing the cost and complexity of the system, improving speed and simplifying calibration.

Abstract: Described is a method for the cutting machining of non-circular contours using a tool in the shape of a cone or a truncated cone positioned on a spindle for rotation, said spindle aligned at a certain angle with the workpiece axis on which the workpiece with the contour is positioned, whereby the tool is swiveled during the machining about at least one first swivel axis that is different from the spindle axis. Alternatively, the workpiece can be moved correspondingly, and the tool may remain unchanged in its alignment. Tool and workpiece also may undergo a corresponding movement together, since the crucial factor is solely the relative movement between tool and workpiece. Also described is a device for performing the method.

Abstract: A copolymer of ethylene and at least one comonomer containing at least 4 carbon atoms is characterized by a polydispersity greater than 2, a broad melting point transition as measured by differential scanning calorimetry, and a narrow composition distribution. Ethylene/C4+ copolymers also may show at least one peak melting point above the peak melting point of a random copolymer of the same monomer unit composition. These copolymers are made by contacting ethylene and a comonomer under polymerization conditions in the presence of a suitable fluxional catalyst system.

Abstract: An automobile rearview mirror mount assembly adapted to mount sensors and wiring for automotive occupancy sensing (AOS) systems for sensing the nature or type of occupant and the location of the occupant with respect to the vehicle interior, particularly AOS systems employing Keep-Out-Zone-Incursion (KOZI) sensors. The mirror mount assembly provides a protected conduit for AOS wiring independent of the windshield, allowing windshield replacement without the removal or possible damage to the wiring. The mirror mounting assembly is characterised by a elongated cantilevered arm extension of the mirror mount, the arm being pivoted from the vehicle roof or a roof- or header-mounted AOS console, The mirror mounting assembly includes a bracket incorporating one or more AOS sensor(s), preferably a Keep-Out-Zone-Incursion (KOZI) sensor(s). The cantilevered arm carries the electronic connections linking the sensors to the AOS system.

Abstract: Method, apparatus and computer programs are described for compensating for the effect of temperature on the sensitivity of electrostatic ultrasound (US) transducers, particularly as used in an automotive occupancy sensing (AOS) systems for sensing the nature or type of occupant and the location of the occupant with respect to the vehicle interior. The invention permits the AOS to classify the occupancy state of the vehicle from a US echo signal substantially free of the effects of temperature on signal amplitude. A capacitive divider or voltage monitor is employed to measure the capacitance of the transducer. The voltage monitor output is used by the scaling algorithm of a compensator to determine the scaling factor to be applied to the US transducer signal to compensate for the effect of temperature on the transducer sensitivity.

Abstract: An automotive occupancy sensing system and method for use in conjunction with airbag deployment systems, by which occupant nature, location and motion parameters within the vehicle interior are determined by ultrasound (US) and/or infared sensors. (IS). Criteria for airbag disablement or airbag modified/partial deployment are used to determine whether appropriate disablement or modified/partial deployment control signals are transmitted to the vehicle airbag deployment system. More particularly the system establishes a Keep Out Zone (KOZ) within the vehicle interior relative to the dashboard or instrument panel and determines actual or imminent incursions by occupants into the KOZ to produce a Keep Out Zone Incursion (KOZI) signal, and determines crash-imminent signal (CIS) criteria derived from one or more sensors within the vehicle. Both the KOZI and the CIS may be used to increase the rate of US pinging as well as to determine airbag disablement/modified deployment criteria.

Abstract: This invention relates to high melting polyolefin copolymers suitable as thermoplastic elastomers and catalysts and methods for their synthesis. These elastomeric olefin copolymers are characterized by a mole fraction of crystallizable component Xc from about 30 to about 99%; low glass transition temperatures, below −20° C., and typically below −50° C.; melting points above about 90° C.; high molecular weights; a molecular weight distribution MW/Mn</=10; and a narrow composition distribution between chains of </=15%. The novel copolymers of the invention range from reactor blends to multiblock copolymers that can be sequentially fractionated into fractions of differing crystallinities, which fractions nevertheless show compositions of comonomers which differ by less than 15% from the parent polymer (reactor product).

Abstract: An incentive-based grocery cart washing and disinfecting system including a consumer special-offer coupon applying apparatus, for use in a batch or continuous process comprising a housing having at least one pipe manifold with nozzles positioned therein to provide at least one treatment zone selected from pre-wash, wash, disinfecting, and rinse zones. In addition, blown air water-stripping/drying zones may be provided, with a heating source to assist drying. Following drying, a strip of specially adapted grocery coupons is optionally applied to the grocery cart handle, so that the coupons can be redeemed by customers during their subsequent shopping. The housing is generally a linear tunnel permitting access of soiled carts at one end and removal of the clean, disinfected carts at the other end. A cart pusher system may be employed to transport the carts through the tunnel either singly or in nested groups. A convenient antimicrobial disinfecting solution is a water solution of hypochlorite.

Abstract: Improvement in wheelchair lifts generally of the dual hydraulic parallelogram type employing a lever arm assembly which assists in the rotation of the platform from the stowed position to the horizontal deployed position, by providing a gas spring disposed in the lever arm assembly connected at an outboard end to the lifting mechanism link and at an inboard end to at least one of the A arm, the B arm or the common pivot pin of the lever arm assembly. The outward force of the gas spring causes the sliding shoe of the lever arm assembly to maintain contact with the outer face of the lower link of the lifting parallelogram so that upon deployment of the lift during the gravity down phase from stowed position to horizontal transfer position, the inboard end of the platform is pulled up so that it rotates smoothly and is not subjected to free fall.

Abstract: A grinding wheel is disclosed with a disk-like, cylindrical shape, whose perimeter is equipped with a grinding abrasive and has at least one spiral groove. The groove extends essentially around the perimeter at an acute bevel angle of inclination less than 45.degree. to a radius line normal to the axis of wheel rotation. Preferably the bevel angle is designed as an acute angle and is sized so that the groove extends over at least one full circumference of the grinding wheel. The face of the ribs may be tapered and the corners chamfered. Multiple parallel or non-parallel grooves may be employed. Improved cutting, service life and surface characteristics of the processed workpiece are obtained.

Abstract: An under floor lift comprising a horizontal, U-shaped header framework which is mountable between a vehicle axle and floor, and which reciprocatingly receives a nestable carriage comprising a second U-shaped framework. The carriage comprises a transverse motor mount plate and a pair of spaced, horizontal arms between which is received the lift platform. The platform is pivotably suspended, lifted and lowered by spaced pairs of parallelogram linkages pivotably secured at their outboard ends to the outboard end of the carriage side rails and at their inboard ends to the inboard end of the lift platform. The carriage is telescoped by a gear and chain mechanism from an inboard stowed position horizontally out to a transfer level deployed position. The wheelchair lift is moved by a hydraulic/chain drive downwardly and upwardly supported by the parallelogram arms to or from a ground level position, to permit the lift to be an in-swing, negative type lift.

Abstract: Modulation and cutoff system for automotive interior fans/blowers which cuts off fan or closes shutters to stop or divert airflow during preselected Automotive Occupancy Sensor system operations so that the airflow does not interfere with, cause anomalies or short duration signal ambiguities in the US and IR sensor signal detection. The US sensor increases to a fast mode cycle upon receiving a crash imminent (CI) signal or upon detection of a Keep-Out Zone Intrusion (KOZI). Upon receipt of a CI or KOZI signal the fan/blower power is interrupted, slowed or the airstream is diverted. Alternately or additionally, the AOS system can be recalibrated for fan or air stream relative movement, the before/after fan interrupt US/IR signals can be compared, and a "fan-on" signal can be used to change AOS fusion processing coefficient, feature selections or matrix.

Abstract: This application is directed to novel fluorinated polymers and prepolymers derived from mono-substituted oxetane monomers having fluorinated alkoxymethylene side-chains and the method of making these compositions. The mono-substituted fluorinated oxetane monomers having fluorinated alkoxymethylene side-chains are prepared in high yield by the reaction of a fluorinated alkoxides with either 3-halomethyl-3-methyloxetane premonomers or aryl sulfonate derivative of 3-hydroxymethyl-3-methyloxetane premonomers. Preparation of a mono-substituted 3-bromomethyl-3-methyloxetane premonomer via a simple, high yield process amenable to commercial scaleup is also disclosed. The fluorinated oxetane monomers of this invention can be readily homo/co-polymerized in the presence of a Lewis acid and polyhydroxy compounds to obtain hydroxy-terminated polyether prepolymers having fluorinated alkoxymethylene side chains.

Abstract: A highly secure, virus resistant, tamper resistant, object oriented, data processing system for depositing, withdrawing and communicating electronic data between one or more individual and/or networked computers comprising one or more computers for processing electronic data including one or more shared electronic storage devices for the temporary and/or permanent storage of said electronic data, each of said computers including custom configurable system programs for asynchronous depositing, withdrawing and communicating said electronic data to commonly shared electronic storage devices, and said programs permitting data archival, accountability, security, encryption and decryption, compression and decompression, and multi-processing capabilities.

Abstract: Underground powerplant system for the generation of energy, in particular electrical energy, comprising a coal fired steam generator, whose steam drives a turbine which delivers electrical energy. The coal-fired steam driven electrical generation system of the invention is installed underground in a coal mine. Waste fly ash (with or without sorbent) bottom ash and slag can be disposed in the abandoned or exhausted mining area. Ambient mine water can be employed in one or more of the process operations.

Abstract: A semi-ambulatory companion seating system including a base unit assembly, a carriage assembly, and a pivotable seat support assembly. The base unit assembly includes spaced apart side rails, each having an external and an internal track. Each of the internal tracks are generally horizontal throughout, and each of the external tracks has a generally horizontal section terminating in an inclined section. The carriage subassembly includes a generally rectangular framework having six rollers to move the carriage on the internal and external tracks. Four rollers are guided in the internal tracks. Two rollers, mounted on an outrigger disposed along the inboard end of the carriage assembly, are guided in the external tracks. The outboard end of the carriage assembly includes an axle bushing for receiving an axle of the pivotable seat support assembly mounted thereon. The seat assembly includes a seat base box-plate assembly having holes aligned to receive the bolts of a standard vehicle seat.

Abstract: A light metal casting for use in combination with a metal holder for mounting heavy subassemblies, such as doors or the like, to a light metal frame member of a light metal vehicle body framework, including a first, vertical leg portion having an outward facing surface to which a metal holder is mounted, and a second, inwardly-extending horizontal leg portion connected at an upper end of the first leg portion. The second leg portion is provided with a vertical through-hole oriented transversely to its surface, and, at the edge of the opening which faces the first leg, an upstanding tongue member is formed integrally on the second leg which points away from the first leg and can be bent over the holder.

Abstract: A semiconductor wafer and magnetic disk edge detection system having a sensor unit comprising a dual beam light source spatially oriented so that the beams focus and converge at a single point external to the sensor unit, and dual light detectors spatially oriented to allow detection of light reflected from the edges of the wafers and disks even where the angle of incidence of the light onto the edge deviates significantly from the perpendicular. The sensor unit works in operative combination with a scanning motion means to move the sensor across the edges of the wafers or disks to be detected, typically by attachment of the sensor unit to a linear motor or a robotic arm, or alternately, by manually detecting the edges of the wafers and disks.

Abstract: A connection type fluid transfer and treatment system apparatus and method for efficiently and continuously executing transfer and treatment of small or micro amounts of sample solutions without substantial transfer loss, which includes a first microsolution reaction microtube having one open end and a second closed end, a second microsolution target microtube having substantially the same shape as the first microtube also having one open end and one closed end, and a connector for connecting together the open ends of the first microtube to the open end of the second tube. The connector includes a foramenous membrane support, which removably receives chemically or biologically treated membranes for applying a predetermined treatment to a solution while passing the sample solution from the first microtube to the second tube. Alternately, a "single use only" connector having disposed therein a membrane pretreated with a quantitative amount of reagent may be used for certain treatment operations.

Abstract: A system for sensing the presence, position and type of an occupant in a passenger seat of a vehicle, as well as for sensing the presence of a rear-facing child seat therein, for use in enabling or disabling a related airbag activator. The sensor system employs sensor-fusion, a process of combining information provided by two or more sensors, each of which "sees" the world in a unique sense. In a preferred embodiment, occupancy sensor samples two detectable properties, a first being a thermal signature and associated motion, and a second is acoustically measured distance and the associated motion. Infrared sensor inputs and an ultrasonic sensor input are combined in a microprocessor circuit by means of a sensor fusion algorithm to produce an output signal to the air bag controller. The output signal results from preselected confidence weighing for feature parameters generated by the two sensors and upon a fusion process which ultimately makes a decision which is extremely reliable.