Abstract: A swing cylinder having a body and an end cap on each end of the body. The cylinder also has a piston arranged within the body. The cylinder has a rod engaged with the piston and has an arm attached to one end thereof. A guide is arranged on the opposite end of the rod. The guide is also attached to one of the end caps.

Abstract: A seam for use in joining material. The seam having a joint sew line connecting a first and second material. The seam having a cord arranged adjacent to the joint sew line. A stitch line is located adjacent to the cord, wherein the cord forms a predetermined shaped hump on an outer surface of the material.

Abstract: A tailgate step for use on a vehicle. The step includes a guide rail bracket. A sliding member is arranged within the guide rail bracket. A support arm is pivotally connected to an end of the sliding member. A fact plate is secured to the guide rail bracket. The step also includes a stop plate pivotally connected to the support arm and a cover secured to an end of the support arm.

Abstract: An illumination device (10) that preferably includes a cold cathode fluorescent bulb (30), wherein the illumination device (10) further includes a substantially cylindrical casing (34) positioned about the bulb (30), and a reflector (32) substantially coextensive with a length of the bulb (30). An end cap (40) is provided that includes a locating surface (37) for the reflector (32), and a support for the bulb (30). A mounting member or fitting (18) is provided having a groove (19) adapted to receive a protrusion (42) from the casing (34) that allows relative rotation between the casing (34) and the fitting (18) less than 360°. A watertight fluorescent light (31) is further provided having a special four point seal that includes an O-ring (350) forming seals approximately at four radial positions about a cross sectional profile thereof.

Abstract: A method of improving resolution for an image is disclosed. The method for improving resolution of an image includes loading a first image and creating a first super grid image based on the first image. The method also includes loading a second image and creating a second super grid image based on the second image. The method then arranges the first super grid image and a second super grid image into an unprocessed super grid image having a checkerboard like pattern. Next the method calculates a pixel value from at least two pixel values of the unprocessed super grid image. Then the method will insert pixels into a super resolution image and display that super resolution image on a display.

Abstract: A visor molded with an integral vanity frame. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the visor body is formed with a Class A grained surface and requires no additional finishing such as upholstery.

Abstract: A manual pull action clamp is disclosed. The manual pull action clamp includes a base and a handle including a first and second portion. The handle is pivotally connected to the base. The clamp further includes a pin arranged between the first and second portions of the handle. The clamp also has a bracket secured to the pin. The clamp also includes a spring arranged between the handle and the pin. The clamp is such that it is capable of one-handed operation and of holding various forces depending on the design of the clamp and the clamping environment.

Abstract: A magnetic flux is sensed within a gap at a first location between two portions of a vehicle body/structure and a signal generated responsive thereto controls an element of the vehicle, wherein the magnetic flux is responsive to a disturbance of the vehicle body/structure. In one embodiment, the first location is proximate to the A-pillar, B-pillar or C-pillar. In another embodiment, at least a portion of the magnetic flux is generated by a coil at a different second location. A gap coil is located within a gap between portions of the vehicle body/structure for generating or sensing magnetic flux. A plurality of gap coils of various orientations provide for multi-axis sensitivity. In another aspect, a magnetic crash sensing system comprises a first coil at a first location, and a plurality of magnetic sensors at a plurality of corresponding second locations.

Abstract: A first magnetic field generated by a first coil operatively associated with a first portion of a vehicle interacts with at least one conductive element operatively associated with or at least a part of a second portion of the vehicle so as to generate an eddy current in the conductive element, which affects the magnetic field sensed by a magnetic sensor. A conductive element operatively coupled to a portion of the vehicle susceptible to a crash, e.g. a bumper or a door, provides for sensing a crash with the signal from the magnetic sensor. In another aspect, a second magnetic field is generated in the frame of a vehicle by a second coil wherein the frame is adapted so that the reluctance of the associated magnetic circuit is responsive to a crash. Signals from the first or second coils may be used to sense the associated magnetic fields.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of manufacturing a sun visor for a motor vehicle. The method includes the steps of positioning a nail substantially parallel a longitudinal edge of a clamshell visor half and driving the nail though a clip rod positioned in a clip rod recess. The nail is preferably driven by sliding a visor pivot rod or attached slider against one end thereof, driving the nail through the clip rod and securing the same in the recess.

Abstract: In a process of forming a LCD cell structure, an electrode layer provided with a recessed portion is formed over a substrate, and a transparent dielectric layer is formed to cover the recessed portion of the pixel electrode layer. The recessed portion of the electrode layer acts to distort an electric field created in the liquid crystal of the LCD system for image displaying, while the transparent dielectric layer eliminates the boundary conditions created by the concavity of the recessed portion of the electrode layer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for preparing a perforated panel for reticulation to a film adhesive. The method includes supporting the perforated panel. The method also includes adhering the film adhesive to the perforated panel without initiating a cure of the film adhesive. The method applies a vacuum to the film adhesive. Next the method will move the perforated panel at a predetermined speed through a reticulation unit. Next the method will soften the film adhesive and finally remove the film adhesive from the perforations by an airflow. The method is generally used for creating acoustic sheet panels for use in many industries.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a seat that includes the steps of attaching adjacent upholstery panels with a locator strip and attachment strip sandwiched therebetween. The attachment strip includes an enlarged edge portion that engages clips in a molded foam seat backing. At least a portion of the locator strip is torn away along a line of perforations formed therein.

Abstract: A drop away leaf pivot unit for use with a clamp in a manufacturing environment. The drop away leaf pivot unit includes a body having a plurality of orifices therethrough and a chamber defined therein. A base member is connected to the body at one side thereof. The pivot unit includes a cylinder extending from an end of the body with a cylinder having a piston and piston rod therein. A spline shaft is rotatably supported by the body and has a drive link engaged therewith. The drive link is also connected to the piston rod on the opposite end. At least one stop member is engaged with the shaft on an end. The drop away leaf pivot unit also includes an arm secured to the shaft on an outer portion of the shaft, outside of the body of the pivot unit. A cover plate is secured to both ends of the body to ensure an enclosed operating environment for certain components of the pivot unit.

Abstract: A signal generated responsive to a magnetic field in a magnetic circuit is decomposed into first and second filtered signals, wherein, at at least one first frequency, a magnitude of a component of the first filtered signal is greater than that of the second filtered signal, and at at least one second frequency greater than the at least one first frequency, a magnitude of a component of the second filtered signal is greater than that of the first filtered signal. A condition of a magnetic circuit is sensed responsive to the first and second filtered signals. In one embodiment, actuation of a safety restraint actuator of a vehicle is controlled responsive to the sensed condition of the magnetic circuit that includes a portion of the vehicle susceptible to a crash. A deployment threshold is adjusted responsive to a door opening state.

Abstract: The present invention provides a plug-in lower tool for a deep rolling apparatus. The tool includes a housing having a recessed region that defines a seat for removable mounting of the tool and a passage in communication with the seat. The tool includes a reciprocable member engageable with the tool to removably support the same in the seat.

Abstract: This invention solves problems associated with prior-art soft-dock mechanisms by placing all active components of a soft-dock system on the chaser side of the mechanism, leaving the target side of the mechanism completely passive (i.e., requiring no power expenditure or self-actuated moving parts to operate). In particular, the active components are supported on the end of a flexible cable attached to the probe, or chaser, side of the device. These components act as a sort of spring-loaded “trap.” Once the end of the probe passes into a receptacle on the target side, the mechanism is triggered, engaging it in such a way that it can no longer be pulled out of the receptacle until it is reset. The soft-docking cable may be replaced with a rigid, semi-rigid or jointed post that is used to bring a capture mechanism into engagement with its corresponding receptacle or receiving structure.

Abstract: A first beam of light from a laser is split by a beam splitter into a reference beam and at least one second beam of light, the latter of which is directed from an optical head into an atmosphere. Light from the at least one second beam of light scattered by molecules or aerosols in the atmosphere is collected by a corresponding at least one telescope of the optical head as at least one light signal. The at least one light signal and the reference beam are simultaneously processed by different portions of a Fabry-Pérot interferometer, and resulting fringe patterns are imaged onto a detector and processed by a data processor to determine at least one associated air data product.

Abstract: A wide FOV imaging system (10) includes an objective lens (14), a convergent reflective element (18) positioned proximate an intermediate image (16) formed by the objective lens, and a re-imaging lens (20) for re-imaging the intermediate image. The present invention significantly improves image fidelity while minimizing optical components by utilizing a convergent reflective element proximate the intermediate image to reverse the propagation of aberrations produced by the objective lens (14) to, as a result, significantly cancel or reduce the aberrations contributed by the re-imaging lens.