Abstract: A disc brake assembly has a hub that is rotatable about an axis and at least a pair of discs supported on the hub for relative axial movement along the axis of the hub with the discs having opposite sides presenting braking surfaces. A non-rotatable support structure supports a plurality of friction elements for relative axial movement into and out of frictional braking engagement with the braking surfaces of the discs. An electric actuator is mounted on the support structure adjacent at least one of the friction elements and is operative when actuated to move the friction elements into frictional braking engagement with the braking surfaces of the discs.

Abstract: A portable entertainment device including a right bay, a center bay and a left bay. The right and left bays are used to house the electrical speakers used in the portable entertainment device and the center bay is used to house both permanently mounted electronics and electronic modules which can be shared between the portable entertainment device and an automotive vehicle. Modules such as satellite receivers, DVD players, MP3 players and the like can comprise the portable modules. The right bay, center bay and left bay are integrated by way of a tubular structure wherein tubular structure forms inner chambers which are used to accommodate batteries, electrical power cords, and can also function as the pressure equalization port for a woofer style speaker housed in one of the bays.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for controlling a rear brake hydraulic circuit having a fluid storage element and a master cylinder supplying a volume of pressurized brake fluid to the rear brakes during the braking cycle in a pump-less anti-lock brake apparatus controlling the rotational speeds, during a braking cycle, of only the rear brakes of a vehicle having at least one front wheel, at least one rear wheel, and front and rear brakes acting on the front and rear wheels respectively, by determining whether the vehicle is operating lightly loaded at a light vehicle weight (LVW) or heavily loaded at a gross vehicle weight (GVW), providing rear dynamic proportioning (RDP) when a predetermined deceleration rate is exceeded during the braking event with the vehicle operating at LVW, and inhibiting RDP when the vehicle is operating at GVW. The apparatus and method also provide rear pressure control (RPC) during anti-lock braking.

Abstract: A system and a method for determining a velocity and a direction of travel of a vehicle on a roadway are provided. The method includes selecting a portion of the roadway and determining a cellular phone base station that is within a desired distance from the portion of the roadway, from a plurality of cellular phone base stations. The method further includes inducing a cellular phone base station to transmit a first message to a first global positioning system transceiver unit disposed in a first vehicle. The first message requests a first position coordinate from the first GPS transceiver unit. The method further includes receiving a second message from the first GPS transceiver unit having the first position coordinate and a first time value, and inducing the cellular phone base station to transmit a third message to the first GPS transceiver unit. The third message requests a second position coordinate of the first GPS transceiver unit.

Abstract: A method for controlling the release of a brush motor which has applied a load includes several steps. One step includes applying a release current to the brush motor to rotate the brush motor in a direction toward releasing the applied load of the brush motor. Another step includes sensing the commutator bar ripple current of the brush motor. Another step includes determining when to remove the release current using at least the sensed commutator bar ripple current.

Abstract: A hydraulic mount provides passive rate dip performance through use of a secondary orifice track-mass resiliently constrained within a first orifice track for reciprocating movement within the first orifice track under conditions such as engine idle, and constrained against reciprocating motion within the first orifice track for conditions imposing large amplitude, low frequency loads on the mount.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the front suspension containing elastic (14) and damping (11) elements, for vehicles with front steerable wheel, such as bicycles, motor-bicycles, motorcycles or tricycles. To minimise the total mass of the unsprung suspension elements, by relocating the elastic and the damping elements to the springing side, the suspension contains at least one cable (10) connected at one end to the upper part of the front wheel fork (1), able to shift in relation to the fork column (6) of the handle bar (7), and at the other end to the elastic element (14) and/or the damping element (11), supported on at least one end by the vehicle frame (8), wherein the cable (10) goes through the handle bar (7) steering axis. The cable (10) is preferably led on at least one leading element (16) supported by the vehicle frame. Optionally, the cable (10) may be connected on the other end to the fork (18) of the vehicle rear suspension.

Abstract: A magnetostrictive strain sensor (10) includes a magnetostrictive core (12) comprising a magnetostrictive material, such as a nickel-iron alloy, able to conduct a magnetic flux and whose permeability is alterable by application of a strain. A conductive coil (14) is proximate the magnetostrictive core (12) to generate the magnetic flux when electrically excited. A shell (16) surrounds the conductive coil (14) and the magnetostrictive core (12) for providing a conductive return path for the magnetic flux. An excitation source (18) is electrically connected to the conductive coil (14) for electrically exciting the conductive coil (14) with an alternating current having a constant magnitude. An in-phase voltage circuit (22) is electrically connected across the conductive coil (14). The in-phase voltage circuit (22) senses an in-phase voltage that is in-phase with the alternating current. The in-phase voltage varies correspondingly to the strain subjected to the magnetostrictive core (12).

Abstract: A hydraulic actuator comprises piston that divides the interior into a piston chamber and a rod chamber and a valve disc assembly to regulate flow of hydraulic fluid between the piston chamber and the rod chamber through a passage in the piston. The disc valve assembly includes a washer, a valve pack that includes at least one flexible disc valve, and a spacer arrangement spacing the valve pack apart from the washer. During operation, the valve pack flexes to open and close the passage. The spacer arrangement includes a first support point supporting the valve pack relative to the washer and at least one second support point spaced apart from the flexible portion of the disc valve pack. In the open position, the valve pack engages the second support point to reduce stress build-up at the first support point, thereby reducing work fatigue of the valve disc and extending the useful life of the hydraulic actuator.

Abstract: A compact controlled braking system including a hydraulic control unit having a first housing and a motor positioned within the first housing and an electronic control unit connected to the hydraulic control unit, the electronic control unit having a second housing, wherein at least a portion of the motor is received within the second housing.

Abstract: An airbag module includes an airbag holder, which has a base body and a projection on a peripheral surface of the base body extending around this in full or with the exception of at least one interruption, and an airbag which has an airbag mouth whose peripheral contour is smaller than a peripheral contour enclosing the projection and the base body and which is held at the airbag holder in an end position in which the airbag mouth encloses the base body and thereby engages behind the projection at a first side of the projection.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for applying a kinetic spray coating of powder particles onto a substrate covered in a plastic-type material without first removing the plastic-type material. In one use of the process a mask is used to enable a single kinetic spray pass to both remove the plastic covering and bind particles having average nominal diameters of from 60 to 250 microns to the underlying substrate. In another use of the process the particles have an average nominal diameter of from 250 to 1400 microns and the use of a mask is optional because the particles can penetrate the plastic material and bind directly to the substrate. The process finds special use in forming electrical connections or solderable pads anywhere along the length of a flexible circuit.

Abstract: A door for an airbag module having an inflatable cushion, the airbag module being adapted to be used in a vehicle having an instrument panel with an airbag module opening, the door having an inner surface and an outer surface adapted to match the instrument panel, comprising: a first member depending away from the inner surface of the door, the first member being movably secured to the airbag module and remains secured to the module during deployment of the inflatable cushion; a second member depending away from the inner surface of the door, the second member being received within a flange opening of the airbag module; and a plurality of latch hooks depending away from the inner surface of the door, the plurality of latch hooks being configured to engage an opening in the airbag module, wherein the first member, the second member and the plurality of latch hooks are each configured to allow movement of the door in three separate directions with respect to the airbag module and wherein the second member and t

Abstract: The occupant of a vehicle seat is characterized by computing a power spectrum function of data obtained from a seat sensor such as a pressure sensor in a fluid-filled seat bladder or a frame-mounted vertical accelerometer. The spectrum function is integrated over a specified frequency range, and compared to a threshold value that is calibrated to compensate for vehicle speed related variability. The presence of a cinched child seat is indicated when the threshold is exceeded, and the presence of a normally seated adult is indicated otherwise.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pyrotechnic detonator with an igniter support of plastic, which bears an ignition element. A cylindrical metal housing is fastened to the igniter support, into which the ignition reaches. A booster charge is arranged in the metal housing. To improve seal tightness and lower the manufacturing costs, for mechanical support a metal insert is integrated into the igniter support, the metal insert being encased by the plastic of the igniter support.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and a method for simultaneously applying a kinetic spray coating and a thermal spray coating onto a substrate using a single application nozzle to produce a combined coating. The system may include a higher heat capacity gas heater to permit both the thermal spray and the kinetic spray. The method involves providing two populations of particles to the nozzle simultaneously wherein one population is thermally softened in the nozzle under the spray parameters and the other is not. The system increases the versatility of the spray nozzle and addresses several problems inherent in kinetic spray applied coatings.

Abstract: A door for an airbag module having a housing, an inflatable cushion, the airbag module being adapted to be used in a vehicle having an instrument panel with an airbag module opening, the door having an inner surface and an outer surface adapted to match the instrument panel, comprising: a first member depending away from the inner surface of the door, the first member being movably secured to the airbag module for relative movement therebetween and remains secured to the module during deployment of the inflatable cushion; a pair of second members depending away from the inner surface of the door, the pair of second members each having an opening for receiving a guiding member depending away from the housing; wherein the configuration of the first member and the openings of the pair of second members allows the door of the airbag module to deploy in a first direction until the first member reaches a point of maximum movement in the first direction, wherein the door continues to deploy in a second direction tha

Abstract: A capacitive occupant sensor for a seat has a dielectric in the form of a fluid-filled elastomeric bladder, and the sensor includes a primary region that is subjected to occupant force and a secondary region that is shielded from occupant force. The secondary region includes an appendage of the bladder that is disposed beneath a back cushion of the seat, either in a cavity of the seat cushion or below a frame element that supports the seat cushion. A spring clamp normally biases fluid out of the appendage, but occupant-related force applied over a broad area of the seat produces a flow of bladder fluid into the appendage against the bias force of the spring clamp. A pair of auxiliary conductor plates is oppositely disposed about the bladder appendage, and the capacitance between the auxiliary conductor plates is measured as an indication of fluid pressure in the bladder.

Abstract: An instrument panel and method of making an instrument panel for use in a vehicle having a passenger side airbag module is disclosed. The instrument panel comprising: a first outer layer having a show surface and an inner surface; an intermediary layer disposed on the inner surface; an inner layer disposed on the intermediary layer; a plurality of cuts in the show surface, the plurality of cuts defining a deployable door in the instrument panel and the plurality of cuts in the show surface are not visually perceivable. The plurality of cuts being in the show surface of the first outer layer and the plurality of cuts do not extend all the way through the first outer layer.

Abstract: An air bag assembly in a vehicle having an inflator for generating inflation gas and an air bag cushion deployable upon generation of gas by the inflator. The air bag cushion includes a first inflatable portion which is proximal to the inflator for cushioning the torso of the vehicle occupant. The air bag cushion further includes a second inflatable portion distal from the inflator for cushioning the head of the vehicle occupant. A plurality of expansion restraining elements extend from opposing lateral sides of the air bag cushion at differing latitudes along the air bag cushion between the first and second inflatable portions. The expansion restraining elements extend partially but not completely across the width of the air bag cushion so as to partially restrict the flow of inflation gas from the first inflatable portion into the second inflatable portion while defining the flow path of the inflation gas between the first and second inflatable portions.