Abstract: A chemical vapor sensor is provided that passively measures a suspect chemical species of interest with high sensitivity and chemical specificity, for use with safety systems. A vapor concentrator amplifies a suspect chemical vapor concentration to a detectible level, for use with an infrared detector. Compensation is provided for environmental variations that may influence the passive measurement of the chemical vapor sensor. Environmental variations may include extrinsic vapors in the surrounding air, or air currents that divert the sample vapor as it drifts from the suspect vapor source to a sampling intake. In an example, ethanol vapor is measured and carbon dioxide tracer measurements are used to calculate an ethanol vapor measurement that is adjusted for environmental variations. In an aspect, a time artifact filter sets the output of the carbon dioxide sensor to match the time dependence of the ethanol sensor, to calculate blood alcohol concentration.

Abstract: A liquid metal rotary connector for a vehicle steering mechanism utilizes a conductive alloy comprising Gallium, Indium, Tin and Zinc to electrically couple stationary and rotary terminals of the connector. The alloy is a liquid at ambient temperatures, and has a melting point of ?36° C., though testing has shown that it operates satisfactorily at temperatures as low as ?40° C. In a preferred arrangement, the rotary connector provides a two-wire connection through which power is supplied from the steering column to the steering wheel, and electronic modules located in the steering column and the steering wheel support bi-directional data communication through voltage and current modulation of the supplied power.

Abstract: An electronic module includes a printed circuit board with a heat producing electrical component assembled in an insulating housing. The component is adjacent a thermally conducting heat sink with a thermally conductive material disposed therebetween. Integral with the heat sink is a thermally conductive runner, partially encased in the housing wall, connecting the heat sink to a thermally conductive port. The port is coupled to a base structure when the housing is attached to the base, forming a heat conduction path from the component to the base. This conductive path may also provide an electrical ground path from the printed circuit board to the base.

Abstract: A system for amplifying GPS and satellite digital radio signals is provided. The system includes a GPS antenna configured to receive signals transmitted by a GPS satellite, and a satellite digital radio antenna configured to receive satellite digital radio signals. The system also includes an amplifier that is electrically coupled to the GPS antenna and satellite antenna. The amplifier is configured to amplify GPS and satellite digital radio signals received by the satellite digital radio antenna and GPS antenna. A method for amplifying GPS and satellite digital radio signals is also provided.

Abstract: A technique for reducing multipath distortion in a mobile FM receiver with a plurality of antennas is accomplished through a number of steps. Initially, a first antenna signal and a second antenna signal are received. The first antenna signal is weighted with a variable first weight and the second antenna signal is weighted with a variable second weight. The weighted first antenna signal and the weighted second antenna signal are then combined to provide a combined received signal having a combined signal level. The variable first and second weights are determined by an adaptation strategy that is substantially controlled by a first algorithm, when the combined signal level is greater than a predetermined signal level. When the combined signal level is less than the predetermined signal level, the variable first and second weights are determined by an adaptation strategy substantially controlled by a second algorithm.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of controlling a driver assistance system which can identify a danger situation with reference to a comparison of measured data with predetermined limit values and which can output a warning signal when it has identified a danger situation of this type. An additional control module is provided which determines an activity state of the driver in dependence on at least one input value which permits a conclusion on actions carried out by a driver and can suppress the outputting of the warning signal in dependence on this activity state.

Abstract: An RF radio and a method of monitoring warning alert data is provided. The RF radio includes a radio receiver for receiving broadcast radio wave signals, and a tuner adjustable for selecting radio wave signal channels within AM and FM radio bands and radio wave signal channels within a weather band. The weather band is adapted to provide warning alert data. The radio also includes a controller for controlling the tuner to select a radio wave signal channel within the AM or FM radio band. The controller controls the tuner to periodically switch to the weather band and determines presence of warning alert data. The controller further initiates receipt of the warning alert data when such warning alert data is determined to be present.

Abstract: A panel-mounted vehicle antenna module includes exterior and interior components that are joined in a single operation to simultaneously achieve both mechanical fastening of the module and through-the-panel electrical connections of the antenna. The exterior and interior components are equipped with electrical connector terminals that are coupled when the exterior and interior components are joined, and alignment features that ensure accurate alignment of the connector terminals. The exterior component is temporarily retained against the panel, the interior component is temporarily attached to the exterior component, and a bolt is driven from the interior component into the exterior component to complete the mechanical attachment and electrical connections. Electrical cables hard-wired to the interior component are connected to the vehicle wiring harness to complete the installation.

Abstract: An antenna assembly is disclosed. The antenna assembly includes a dual band vertical loop wire antenna extending from a printed circuit board positioned over a ground plane, wherein the wire antenna includes: at least one coiled section, at least one straight wire section, and at least one feeding post section.

Abstract: A receiver for receiving and processing digital satellite radio signals includes multiple antenna modules for receiving digital satellite radio signals, multiple processing circuits for converting digital satellite radio signals to low-IF or 0-IF signals, diversity circuitry for selecting from among multiple low-IF or 0-IF signals, and additional processing circuitry for extracting audio and/or data from the selected signals. The system also includes automatic and manual switches for selecting from among multiple antennas, and for reducing power consumption of antenna and processing circuitry.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for degrading and disabling a vehicle's engine throttle. The vehicle disable system includes a throttle position sensor that generates a throttle position signal, an electronic control module (“ECM”) input connected to the ECM on which the throttle position sensor provides the throttle position signal to the ECM, and an override input that enables an idling signal to be transmitted to the ECM instead of the throttle position signal. The method of the present invention includes the steps of receiving an input signal related to the state of the driver input mechanism, interpreting the input signal, and at least one of degrading and disabling the throttle based on the interpretation of the input signal.

Abstract: An anchor for securing seat belt component to a vehicle includes a latch member for securing a tongue portion of the component within a housing. The latch member is movable between a first position wherein a protrusion on the latch member engages the tongue and a second position wherein the protrusion is displaced for releasing the tongue. A biasing member provides a biasing force to maintain the latch in the first position. The housing includes a latch-access area for allowing the latch member to be engaged for manually forcing the latch member to the second position to allow the tongue portion to be removed, so that the anchor does not have a release button.

Abstract: The invention relates to an actuator comprising an actuator element movably supported at an actuator housing, a pyrotechnic pressure element to move the actuator element and a control means to control a force exerted onto the actuator element by the pressure element to move the actuator element.

Abstract: A chemical vapor sensor is provided that passively measures a chemical species of interest with high sensitivity and chemical specificity. In an aspect, ethanol vapor in a vehicle cabin is measured, and sufficient sensitivity is provided to passively detect a motor vehicle driver that exceeds a legal limit of blood alcohol concentration (BAC), for use with vehicle safety systems. The sensor can be situated in an inconspicuous vehicle cabin location and operate independently without requiring active involvement by a driver. A vapor concentrator is utilized to amplify a sampled vapor concentration to a detectible level for use with an infrared (IR) detector. In an aspect, in comparison to conventional chemical sensors, the sensitivity of detection of ethanol vapor is increased by a factor of about 1,000. Further, a single channel of infrared detection is utilized avoiding spurious infrared absorption and making the chemical vapor sensor less costly to implement.

Abstract: The present invention involves a method for transmitting data within a specified band of allocated spectrum in a satellite digital transmission system. First a data stream is encoded according to a first encoding scheme, then a second data stream is generated according to a second encoding scheme. The second encoding scheme is incompatible with the first encoding scheme. The first and second data streams are transmitted at predetermined locations within the specified band, such as time slices within a time division multiplexing transmission system. The second data stream is generated by using a more efficient FEC algorithm, including turbo-convolutional, turbo-product, low density parity check, or repeat-accumulate encoders. The inventive receiver has an antenna for receiving RF signals and a demodulator coupled to the antenna for downconverting received RF signals into a data stream. A splitter then separates the data stream into first and second component data streams.

Abstract: A receiver system with dual tuner diversity for background processing and for reducing multipath distortion. The receiver system provides a plurality of antennas with a dual tuner design. One tuner may be used solely for background processing of a received signal while the other tuner may be simultaneously used to reduce multipath distortion.

Abstract: An integrated circuit package includes a first non-conductive substrate having a first inner surface and a second non-conductive substrate having a second inner surface. A die having a first thickness is disposed between the first and second inner surfaces. A leadframe includes a member having a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end has a second thickness less than the first thickness. The distal end is disposed between the first and second inner surfaces. The distal end is undulated such that the distal end has an effective thickness greater than the second thickness.

Abstract: A system for measuring the awareness of a subject including an imaging device adapted to acquire data representative of an image of the subject, and an awareness processor connected to the imaging device, wherein the awareness processor is adapted to classify the awareness of the subject according to the position of the subject.

Abstract: A device and a method are provided for receiving items of product information over a satellite digital audio radio (SDAR) network and locally storing the information therein. A mobile device is provided that comprises a control section and mobile information storage in electrical communication with the control section. The control section is adapted to communicate the items of product information received over the SDAR network to said mobile information storage.

Abstract: A corrosion resistant Faraday cage assembly includes an electrically conductive cover and a coated die cast housing having a ledge extending around the perimeter of the housing. A fence is positioned adjacent to the ledge and a track is positioned between the ledge and the fence. A plurality of serrated contact points are positioned on the fence and are used for making electrical contact with the electrically conductive cover extending over the track. The contact points are either masked prior to the protective coating process or they are mechanically or chemically modified afterward to expose a plurality of electrically-conductive surfaces to be in contact with the electrically-conductive cover.