Abstract: A locking pawl for a mechanism for blocking a belt retractor of a safety belt comprises a first locking pawl element made of a first material and adapted to block said belt retractor, and a second locking pawl element made of a second material and adapted to control a movement of said locking pawl. The first material is different from the second material.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for helping to turn steerable wheels (12) of a vehicle comprises a hydraulic power-assisted steering gear (16). An electric motor (92) actuates the steering gear (16). A pump (84) supplies the steering gear (16) with hydraulic fluid. A vehicle speed sensor (102) senses vehicle speed and provides a vehicle speed signal. A controller (104) is responsive to the vehicle speed signal for controlling the pump (84). The controller (104) activates the pump (84) to supply hydraulic fluid to the steering gear (16) when the vehicle speed signal indicates a vehicle speed below a predetermined value and the controller (104) deactivating the pump (84) when the vehicle speed signal indicates a vehicle speed above the predetermined value.

Abstract: A vehicle communication path-tracing system (10) has a portable transmitter (12) and transceiver/controllers (14A–14N, 14T), located separately from the transmitter (12). A transmitter/controller (14T) is located at a target vehicle (16T) and at least one other transceiver/controller (e.g., 14A) is located at an intermediate location. An intermediate transceiver/controller receives a command signal intended for the target vehicle and transmits a retransmitted command signal intended for the target vehicle. The target transceiver/controller receives the retransmitted command signal and transmits an acknowledgement signal, intended for reception by the at least one intermediate transceiver/controller that transmitted the retransmitted command signal received at the target vehicle. The at least one intermediate transceiver/controller receives an acknowledgement signal and transmits a retransmitted acknowledgement signal.

Abstract: A device for tensioning a safety belt includes a pyrotechnic linear drive. The linear drive includes a gas generator (10) with an ignition unit (16), and a protective cap (18) to secure the gas generator (10) before and during the assembly of the gas generator (10). In the installed state of the device, at least a portion of the protective cap (18), after the igniting of the gas generator (10), represents a function element.

Abstract: A universal joint (10) includes a cross member (24) having a trunnion (26) with a radially outer surface (32). A cup (20) is connectable with the trunnion (26) and a yoke (18). The cup (20) has an open end (54) with a radially outer surface (58). A bearing (30) supports the cup (20) for rotation relative to the trunnion (26). A seal (48) engages the trunnion (26) and the cup (20). The seal (48) has a first axial end portion (50) engaging the radially outer surface (32) of the trunnion (26) and a second axial end portion (52) engaging the radially outer surface (58) of the cup (20). The first axial end portion (50) is stretched over the radially outer surface (32) of the trunnion (26) and the second axial end portion (52) is stretched over the radially outer surface (58) of the cup (20).

Abstract: A vehicle steering column (10) comprises an axially extending input shaft (12) for connecting to a vehicle steering wheel. The input shaft (12) is rotatable about an axis (A) upon rotation of the steering wheel. The vehicle steering column (10) also comprises a housing (16) at least partially enclosing the input shaft (12). A bearing (92) is interposed between the housing (16) and the input shaft (12) and supports the input shaft (12) for rotation about the axis (A). The housing (16) has at least one series of axially spaced, annular ribs (52) that at least partially extend around the bearing (92). Axially adjacent annular ribs (52) are separated by an annular groove (58). A gasket (100) is interposed between the bearing (92) and the ribs (52). The gasket (100) encircles the bearing (92). The ribs (52) resist axial movement of the gasket (100).

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for converting a digital signal into an analog signal. A digital-to-analog converter assembly comprises a delta-sigma modulator, a digital-to-analog converter, an analog filter, and a comb filter. The delta-sigma modulator processes a digital input signal to produce a digital output signal having at least one associated high dynamic range frequency band. The digital-to-analog converter converts the digital output signal into an analog output signal having at least one associated high dynamic range frequency band. The associated high dynamic range bands have respective frequency characteristics. An analog filter assembly filters the analog signal. The analog filter has at least one passband. A comb filter assembly attenuates the analog signal output of the filter assembly to improve signal to noise ratio.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for enhancing the safety in a work zone surrounding operating equipment including identifying workers within said work zone and warning unauthorized workers within said work zone.

Abstract: A tachometer pointer instrument for motorcycles comprises a housing which includes a housing base and a housing cover which is transparent at least in part. The tachometer pointer instrument also comprises a pointer drive module accommodated in the housing base and a number dial visible through the housing cover. The pointer drive module has a stepping motor, control electronics and a display unit which are built on a common printed circuit board and the pointer drive module is fastened on support structures formed in the housing base.

Abstract: A vehicle occupant protection apparatus (10c) has an inflatable occupant protection device (12c) and a support member (20c) having a vent opening (44c). A vent member (46c) is associated with the vent opening (44c). A tether (50c) extends between the protection device (12c) and the vent member (46c). The vent member (46c) is initially in a first condition closing the vent opening (44c). The vent member (46c) is moved to a second condition spaced apart from the vent opening (44c) and enabling fluid flow through the vent opening (44c) upon initial inflation of the protection device (12c). The vent member (46c) is moved from the second condition back toward the first condition by tension in the tether (50c) that results from inflation of the protection device (12c) away from the support member (20c) by more than a predetermined distance.

Abstract: A cord retainer is utilized in association with a portable electrical device, such as a cellular phone or a portable disc player. The cord retainer includes a base which is connected with the electrical device and a flange which is connected with and extends from the base. The flange and base may cooperate with a surface of the electrical device to at least partially define a groove into which a cord may be manually wound. The cord retainer may be integrally formed as one piece with the electrical device. The cord retainer may have a plurality of flanges which at least partially define the groove into which the cord is wound. The cord retainer may be movable between extended and retracted positions.

Abstract: A sensor for triggering a vehicle occupant restraint system, in particular a locking mechanism of a belt retractor, comprises an inertia body, a lower shell in which the inertia body is received, and an upper shell which rests on the inertia body and into which it projects. The upper shell is part of a pivotally mounted sensor lever which swings on displacement of the inertia body and activates the locking mechanism. At least one of the shells has at least one projecting support section for abutment of the inertia body.

Abstract: A decision directed phase locked loop (DD-PLL) is efficiently implemented in a communication receiver. The phase locked loop includes an enhanced block decoder inside a phase detector which takes in the baseband complex samples and the current channel phase estimate (or the tracked phase) and generates a feedback phase error term. A loop filter filters the phase error terms and a phase accumulator updates the tracked phase estimate on each iteration of the loop.

Abstract: An anchor is implantable into a bone in a patient's body and, when implanted, is resistant to toggling in the bone and to being pulled from the bone. The anchor includes a head end portion having a surface that extends transverse to a central axis of the anchor and is engagable with the bone. A plurality of helical spikes extend from the surface on the head end portion and are engagable with the bone. Each of the plurality of helical spikes has a helical central axis that forms a helix around the central axis of the anchor. Each of the plurality of helical spikes further has a circular cross-sectional configuration as viewed in a plane extending perpendicular to the helical central axis of each of the helical spikes and a distal end portion with a tip that penetrates the bone as the head end portion is rotated relative to the bone.

Abstract: A steering column (10) includes a support (24) through which a steering column member (12) extends connected with a mounting bracket (68). A locking mechanism (130) locks the support (24) in any one of a plurality of positions relative to the mounting bracket (68). The locking mechanism (130) has a locking shaft (200) extending through first and second cams (148, 132) and the mounting bracket (68). The first cam (148) is rotatable relative to the locking shaft (200) and the second cam (132) and has a first cam surface (150). The second cam (132) has a second cam surface (134) facing the first cam surface (150). A bearing (166) includes a flexible cage (168) and a plurality of bearing members (170) rotatable relative to the cage engaging the first and second cam surfaces (150, 134). The locking mechanism (130) clamps the support (24) to the mounting bracket (68) when the first cam (148) is in a first position relative to the second cam (132).

Abstract: The present invention resides in a boot seal for use in sealing a joint. The joint comprises first and second relatively movable parts. The boot seal is configured in the form of a sleeve to extend between and around the vehicle relatively movable parts. The sleeve has a laminate wall which comprises at least two layers of thermoplastic elastomeric material which are bonded together. At least one of the layers is a stretch-toughenable polyester thermoplastic elastomer which has been diametrically stretched in an amount effective to increase the toughness of said one layer. The laminate wall has a percent elongation to rupture of at least 100, and a flexural modulus which is less than 100,000 psi. The laminate wall preferably has a puncture resistance of at least 50 Newtons/mm wall thickness.

Abstract: A system, computer program and method to multicast messages to workstations in a network (10). The system uses an MDP database table (140) which stores the parameters used to manage transmission and reception of multicast messages in the network (10). An MDP server initialization module (100) executing on a server reads the parameters from the MDP database table (140) and initialize an MDP session. The system also uses an MDP client initialization module (130) to read the necessary parameters in the MDP database table (140) and initialize an MDP session in a client workstation that receives multicast messages. An MDP server operations module (120) is used to receive requests to transmit messages and transmit repair packets to a workstation designated as action workstations when a negative acknowledgment is received.

Abstract: A tire parameter sensing system (12) for a vehicle (10) having a tire (16) comprises a tire-based unit (26) associated with the tire (16) and including structure (70, 72) for sensing a parameter of the tire (16) and for transmitting a parameter signal (38) indicative of the sensed parameter. The parameter signal (38) having at least first and second different signal characteristics. The tire parameter sensing system (12) also comprises a vehicle-based unit (34) having a first receiving channel (116) for receiving at least portions of the parameter signal (38) that include the first signal characteristic and a second receiving channel (118) for receiving at least portions of the parameter signal (38) that include the second signal characteristic. A signal detection portion (120) of the vehicle-based unit (34) is responsive to the first and second signal characteristics for determining the sensed parameter of the tire (16).

Abstract: A slow-wave transmission line component having a slow-wave structure. The slow-wave structure includes a floating shield employing one of electric and magnetic induction to set a potential on floating strips of said floating shield to about 0, thereby reducing losses caused by electric coupling to a substrate. A spacing between the strips is small to inhibit electric field from passing the metal strips to the substrate material.

Abstract: An apparatus (30) and associated method determine a vehicle occupant characteristic. An imager (32) collects a first image of an occupant location while the occupant location is subject to a first lighting condition. A light source (38) provides light onto the occupant location. The imager (32) collects a second image of the occupant location while the occupant location is subject to the first lighting condition and the provided light. A subtractor device (50) generates a third image of the occupant location indicative of the difference between the first and second images. An image processing device (52) processes the third image to determine the vehicle occupant characteristic.