Abstract: A seat belt tension sensor for use with a seat belt assembly. The sensor includes a housing that has a slot and a plate coupled with the housing. The plate has another slot and a cutout. The slots are connected with a seat belt. A sensor is retained by the housing and extends into the cutout. A portion of the plate is adapted to be engaged by the sensor as tension is increased on the seat belt. The sensor generates an electrical signal that is indicative of seat belt tension.

Abstract: A seat belt tension sensor is attached to a seat belt assembly in a vehicle. The seat belt tensor sensor is secured to the vehicle by a bolt. The sensor includes a housing that is secured by the bolt. An anchor plate is mounted to the housing. The anchor plate has a hole for the bolt and an opening. A strain gage is secured to the housing and extends into the opening. The strain gage has an aperture. A spring is located between the anchor plate and the strain gage. An actuator support is located between the spring and the strain gage to actuate the strain gage. The actuator has a projection extending through the aperture that contacts the anchor plate. The projection prevents a shift in the output of the strain gage when the sensor is subjected to mechanical shock.

Abstract: A seat belt tension sensor for measuring the amount of tension in a vehicle seat belt. The seat belt tension sensor has a housing and an anchor plate that is mounted in the housing. The housing moves relative to the anchor plate. A magnet is held by the anchor plate. A sensor is mounted to the housing. The sensor generates an electrical signal in response to relative movement between the housing and the anchor plate. The electrical signal changes in proportion to the amount of tension on the seat belt. A spring is mounted in association with the housing and the anchor plate. The spring biases the housing from the anchor plate. An integral connector extends from the housing.

Abstract: An R-C network formed on a substrate. The capacitor includes a metal member with anodized and unanodized layers. The unanodized layer functions as one of the capacitor's electrodes. The anodized layer functions as the capacitor's dielectric layer. The resistor is formed from material on the same side of the substrate as the capacitor. In some versions of the invention, the resistor is formed on top of a substrate dielectric layer. In these versions of the invention, a conductor both functions as one of the capacitor's electrodes and connects the resistor to the capacitor. In alternative versions of the invention, the resistor is formed from a film that disposed on the undersurface a metal foil. The foil functions as the resistor to capacitor conductor. Sections of the foil that are removed expose and define the resistor. Solder balls or other connectors on the substrate surface connect the network to another component.

Abstract: A pressure sensor for sensing a pressure level of a medium. The pressure sensor includes a rigid substrate having a medium contacting side and a pressure sensitive resistor mounted on the medium contacting side. The resistor exhibits a change in resistance in response to pressure changes on the resistor above a predetermined threshold. Other embodiments of the invention are shown using a wheatstone bridge with pressure sensitive resistors and resistors that are insensitive to pressure changes.

Abstract: A seat belt tension sensor for measuring the amount of tension in a vehicle seat belt. The seat belt tension sensor has a housing and an anchor plate that is mounted in the housing. The housing moves relative to the anchor plate. A magnet is affixed to the anchor plate. A sensor is mounted to the housing. The sensor generates an electrical signal in response to relative movement between the housing and the anchor plate. The electrical signal changes in proportion to the amount of tension on the seat belt. A spring is mounted between the housing and the anchor plate. The spring biases the housing from the anchor plate. An integral connector extends from the housing.

Abstract: A seat belt tension sensor for measuring the amount of tension in a vehicle seat belt. The seat belt tension sensor has a housing and an anchor plate. A lever is mounted in the housing. The lever holds a magnet. A sensor is mounted to the housing. The sensor generates an electrical signal in response to relative movement between the magnet and the sensor. The electrical signal changes in proportion to the amount of tension on the seat belt. A spring is mounted in association with the housing and the anchor plate. The spring biases the housing from the anchor plate.

Abstract: A pressure sensor for sensing a pressure level of a pressurized medium. The pressure sensor includes a housing that has a high pressure side, a low pressure side and an aperture. A substrate is located in the aperture. The substrate has a pair of ends and a center portion. The center portion is brazed to the housing in the aperture. The center portion seals the high pressure side from the low pressure side. A pressure sensitive resistor is mounted to one end of the substrate. A reference resistor is mounted to another end of the substrate. A circuit line is located on the substrate. The circuit line is connected between the pressure sensitive resistor and the reference resistor.

Abstract: A seat belt tension sensor assembly is adapted to be secured to the seat belt assembly of a vehicle. The assembly includes a housing for a seat belt anchor adapted for movement relative to the housing into an overload position where a portion of the anchor is abutted against a portion of the housing to limit and arrest the movement of the anchor relative to the housing and transfer the load from the anchor to the housing and then to an interior structure of the vehicle. In one embodiment, the housing forms a collar and the anchor includes an interior wall defining an aperture through which the collar extends when the anchor is mounted to the housing. Movement of the anchor relative to the housing is limited as a result of the contact between the interior anchor wall and the collar.

Abstract: A joystick includes a base and a cover mounted over the base. A stick has a first end that extends from the cover and a second end. An active yoke is mounted above the base and is coupled to second end of the stick. The active yoke has a first and second end. The active yoke is adapted to be moved by the stick. A passive yoke is mounted over the active yoke and has a third and fourth end. The passive yoke is adapted to be moved by the stick. A first contactor is mounted to the first end and a second contactor is mounted to the third end. A first resistor is positioned between the first contactor and the cover and a second resistor is positioned between the second contactor and the cover. The resistors are adapted to generate an electrical signal that is indicative of a position of the stick. A switch is positioned in the base below the active yoke. The switch is activated when the stick is sufficiently depressed so as to cause the active yoke to contact the switch.

Abstract: A ball grid array package includes a substrate with a top and bottom surface. A circuit component is located on the bottom surface. The circuit component has a pair of ends. A pair of conductors are located on the bottom surface. The conductors are connected to the ends of the circuit component. A conductive epoxy covers a portion of the conductors and a portion of the bottom surface. The conductive epoxy is in electrical contact with the conductors. A ball is connected to the conductive epoxy. The conductive epoxy provides an electrical connection between the conductor and the ball. The ball is preferably copper and is subsequently coated to prevent corrosion. Other embodiments of the invention are shown in which the balls are omitted and in which the conductive epoxy is used to fill vias in a substrate.

Abstract: A resistive composition for screen printing onto a substrate to form a cured film. The resistive composition, based on total composition, has a) 5–30 wt. % of polymer resin, b) 10–30 wt. % conductive particles selected from the group consisting of carbon black, graphite and mixtures thereof and c) 0.1–10 wt. % zirconia particles, wherein all of (a), (b), and (c) are dispersed in a 60–80 wt. % organic solvent. A cured resistive film composition is also disclosed.

Abstract: An actuator and integral position sensor has increased reliability with a fail-safe mode. The actuator and sensor assembly includes a rotary actuator that has a driving shaft. A sensor rotor has the driving shaft mounted in a bore. A contactor is mounted to an outer edge of the rotor. The contactor is engaged with a resistor film as the rotor rotates. A driven shaft is mounted to the rotor in another bore. The rotor couples the driving shaft and the driven shaft together.

Abstract: A pressure sensor for sensing a pressure level of a medium. The pressure sensor includes a rigid substrate having a medium contacting side and a pressure sensitive resistor mounted on the medium contacting side. The resistor exhibits a change in resistance in response to pressure changes on the resistor above a predetermined threshold. Other embodiments of the invention are shown using a wheatstone bridge with pressure sensitive resistors and resistors that are insensitive to pressure changes.

Abstract: A seat belt tension sensor is attached to a seat belt assembly in a vehicle. The seat belt tensor sensor is secured to the vehicle by a bolt. The sensor includes a housing that is secured by the bolt. An anchor plate is mounted to the housing. The anchor plate has a hole for the bolt and an opening. A strain gage is secured to the housing and extends into the opening. The strain gage has an aperture. A spring is located between the anchor plate and the strain gage. An actuator support is located between the spring and the strain gage to actuate the strain gage. The actuator has a projection extending through the aperture that contacts the anchor plate. The projection prevents a shift in the output of the strain gage when the sensor is subjected to mechanical shock.

Abstract: A new cultivar of Rosa plant named ‘RUIZ012A’ that is characterized by a compact habit, long life and red flowers.

Abstract: A new cultivar of Zantedeschia plant named ‘Captain Cupido’ that is characterized by green leaves and yellow-green colored flowers.

Abstract: A new cultivar of Zantedeschia plant named ‘Captain Reno’ that is characterized by green leaves with light spots and purple violet colored flowers.

Abstract: A new cultivar of Rhododendron plant named ‘Christine Belli’ that is characterized by dark shiny green leaves, large white flowers with a slight greenish base and vigorous growth.

Abstract: A new cultivar of Dracaena plant named ‘Sol’ that is characterized by variegated leaves with a yellow center and green margins and a lorate shape.