Abstract: A method for controlling an amount of a liquid electrolyte in a polymer-electrolyte membrane of a fuel cell is provided. The method comprises enriching one or more of a fuel flow and an air flow with a vapor of the liquid electrolyte, the liquid electrolyte being unreplenishable via an electrochemical reaction of the fuel cell. The method further comprises delivering the vapor of the liquid electrolyte to the fuel cell including the polymer-electrolyte membrane via one or more of the gas-permeable anode and or the gas-permeable cathode. In this manner, loss of liquid electrolyte from the PEM membrane of the fuel cell can be reduced, leading to improved fuel-cell endurance.

Abstract: A method for a laser ignition system to operate in at least two modes based on a four-stroke combustion cycle, wherein laser light energy is generated to ignite an air/fuel mixture for combustion and may be additionally used for heating cylinder walls, such as during a cold start, at times other than when the laser ignites an air/fuel mixture for combustion.

Abstract: A hydraulic engine bearing for motor vehicles has a fluid-filled working chamber (4) surrounded by a rubber-elastic circumferential wall (3). A compensating chamber (7) is provided which is in connection with the working chamber (4) via an overflow duct (6) in a baffle plate (5) between the working chamber (4) and the compensating chamber (7). Another compensating chamber (10) is connected to the working chamber (4) via a bypass duct (9). The additional compensating chamber (10) is formed from an elastic bellows (11), which is surrounded on its outside by a fixed wall (12) and wherein an intermediate space (13) is arranged between the bellows (11) and the wall (12). The intermediate space can be filled with a compressible medium, preferably air, and the medium can be emptied by means of a switching device, wherein the switching device is formed from at least one non-return valve (14) and at least one on-off valve (15).

Abstract: In-store media rating systems and methods are provided. A disclosed method includes receiving data from a plurality of individual stores, each having an individual store floor plan including shopper accessible areas and shopper non-accessible areas, and providing a standard floor plan including a plurality of predefined sectors. The method further includes standardizing each respective individual store floor plan to produce a corresponding standardized individual store floor plan based on the standard floor plan, wherein relative location and shopper accessible area of each of the sectors in the each standardized individual store floor plan correspond to the location and shopper accessible area of a corresponding predefined sector of the standard floor plan. The method further includes producing an output including the standardized individual store floor plan.

Abstract: Engine surge includes oscillations in engine torque resulting in bucking or jerking motion of a vehicle that may degrade driver experience. The present application relates to increasing reformate entering an example engine cylinder in response to engine surge.

Abstract: A joint unit such as for mounting the vehicle control arm of a motor vehicle, is provided with a control arm-side housing (1), in which a pivot pin (2) is mounted pivotably by means of a spheroidal bearing surface (3), wherein the joint unit has a securing unit against the separation of the housing (1) from the pivot pin (2). The securing unit includes a securing bolt (9), arranged within the pivot pin (2) essentially in parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the pivot pin (2) and with a blocking element (12) at a free end. A securing mount (13) is located within the housing (1) or the pivot pin (2) and in this the blocking element (12) is mounted in a contactless manner in the mounted state of the joint unit. The securing mount (13) is part of the securing unit, and the securing bolt (9) is fixed to the component of the joint unit (housing (1) or pivot pin (2)) that is not provided with the securing mount (13).

Abstract: Various systems and methods are described for controlling operation of engine cylinders, where each cylinder has a first and second injector for delivering fuel. One example method maintains air-fuel ratio in the exhaust by adjusting fuel injection of a common fuel injector type among the cylinders, where different cylinders operate with different combinations of injectors.

Abstract: Embodiments related to dual mode rotatable input devices that permit both resistive and non-resistive rotation are disclosed. One embodiment comprises a stationary hub, a rotatable member rotatable around the stationary hub, and a resistive rotation mechanism forming an interface between the stationary hub and the rotatable member. The resistive rotation mechanism comprises a resistive surface and a movable interface member configured to selectively contact the resistive surface, wherein the resistive surface and the movable interface member move relative to one another with rotation of the rotatable member. The resistive mechanism further comprises a biasing mechanism that urges the movable interface member into engagement with the resistive surface when a rotational velocity of the rotatable member is below a threshold velocity, and allows separation of the interface member and the resistive surface when the rotational velocity of the rotatable member is above the threshold velocity.

Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed that relate to increasing a temperature in a low temperature zone in a steam reforming reactor via a radiative heating shunt. For example, one disclosed embodiment provides a steam reforming reactor comprising a reaction chamber having an interior surface, a packing material located within the reaction chamber, and a radiative heating shunt extending from the interior surface into the reaction chamber. The radiative heating shunt comprises a porous partition enclosing a sub-volume of the reaction chamber bounded by the porous partition and a portion of the interior surface, the sub-volume being at least partly free of packing material such that radiative heat has a path from the interior surface to a distal portion of the porous partition that is unobstructed by packing material.

Abstract: Methods are provided for operating an engine with a variable fuel blend in a cylinder, where the variable fuel blend varies a peak achievable engine torque for a given operating condition. One example method comprises selectively operating an engine actuator that affects engine torque and engine fuel economy at the given operating condition, and extending operation of the actuator to higher engine torques as a peak engine torque for the given operating condition increases.

Abstract: A method for operating an engine with a fuel reformer is presented. In one embodiment a first fuel is reformed into a gaseous fuel comprising H, CO, and CH4, or the fuel may change state to vaporized alcohol. The present method provides for ramping injection of the gaseous fuel so that stoichiometric combustion may be maintained while gaseous fuel is injected to the engine.

Abstract: A vehicle seat (1), especially a motor vehicle seat, has at least one lockable pair of seat rails (3) for adjusting various longitudinal positions of the seat, which the vehicle seat (1) can assume in the use position suitable for the transport of passengers. A rail actuation device (12) is provided for unlocking the pair of seat rails (3). At least one lock (5) is provided for locking with the vehicle structure, whereby after unlocking the lock (5), the vehicle seat (1) can be converted from the use position into a nonuse position. A lock actuation device (14) is provided for unlocking the lock (5). A stop (16) is provided which is operative between the pair of seat rails (3) and/or rail actuation (12), on the one hand, and the lock actuation (14) and/or lock (5), on the other hand.

Abstract: There is provided a method for starting a spark ignition engine having multiple cylinders. The method may comprise supplying air and fuel for restart into a first cylinder before said engine completely stops, and igniting the mixture of said air and said fuel in said first cylinder in response to an engine restart request, wherein said first cylinder is on an expansion stroke when said engine stops. The method may also include, after said piston in said first cylinder starts moving, injecting fuel into a second cylinder that is on a compression stroke when said engine stops, on a compression stroke where a piston of said second cylinder is moving in a direction opposite to an operative direction of said piston in said first cylinder.

Abstract: Various systems and methods are described for controlling an engine in a vehicle in response to an equilibrium value of an exhaust gas constituent generated from an exhaust gas sensor. One example method comprises during engine fueling below a threshold amount where at least one intake valve and one exhaust valve of the engine are operating: generating an equilibrium value of an exhaust gas constituent reading of the exhaust gas sensor, the equilibrium value based on a trajectory of the exhaust gas constituent reading, and under selected engine combusting conditions, adjusting the sensor signal based on the equilibrium value.

Abstract: A user input device including a ring-shaped scroll wheel for use with a computing device is provided. The user input device includes a housing and a scroll wheel assembly coupled to the housing. The scroll wheel assembly includes a scroll wheel having a ring-shaped body and a scroll wheel support structure. The body of the scroll wheel may include a surface including an outer circumferential surface and an inner circumferential surface that bounds a hollow interior. The scroll wheel may be configured to extend through an opening of the housing. The scroll wheel support structure may include a frame and a plurality of supports mounted to the frame and contacting the surface of the scroll wheel. The plurality of supports may be configured to rotatably secure the scroll wheel to the scroll wheel support structure.

Abstract: A coherent optical receiver includes a 90-degree optical hybrid circuit to which a received signal light is input, I-channel and Q-channel photo detectors to which the outputs of the hybrid circuit are input, a clock extraction circuit which reproduces a clock whose speed is the same as a demodulated signal obtained by demodulating the received signal light and which is synchronized therewith, I-channel and Q-channel sampling circuits which sample the signal outputs from the I-channel and Q-channel photo detectors by use of the clock, and a digital signal processing section which digitally processes the sampled signals, converts them to a digital signal, and outputs the digital signal. The digital signal processing section feeds a phase offset signal detected there back to the clock extraction circuit to thereby control the phase of the clock, and compensates dispersion of light within a fiber and phase fluctuation during free-space propagation.

Abstract: The invention concerns a shearing or gripping tool which comprises a body with a proximal end and a distal end and defining an internal chamber for a drive piston for actuating the shearing or gripping tool which move between an idle and active position in answer to the movements of the piston between the retracted and forward positions. Sensitive elements to detect at least the forward position of the piston in its respective chamber and in the same way the active position of the shearing or gripping tools in order to signal the effective fulfilment of their action, are associated with the proximal part of the body.

Abstract: There is provided a method of controlling an engine system having an internal combustion engine, a supercharger arranged in an intake air passage of said internal combustion engine and a motor capable of driving the supercharger. The method comprises, driving the motor to operate the supercharger to boost airflow inducted into the internal combustion engine when the internal combustion engine is in operation. The method further comprises driving the motor to determine a state of the supercharger when the internal combustion engine is stopped and indicating the determined state of the supercharger. According to the method, by driving the motor of the supercharger to detect a state of the supercharger when the internal combustion engine is stopped, the state of the supercharger can be more accurately detected because the condition is most stable.

Abstract: A reaction surface array diagnostic apparatus includes a substrate carrying a plurality of reaction surfaces and, a plate having a plurality of wells, alignable with one of the reaction surfaces and forming a fluid tight well about each reaction surface when the plate and the substrate are sealingly affixed to each other in a frame. The plate is formed of a flexible material which may have an adhesive on one surface. Interlocking latch members are formed on the plate and the frame for releasably latching the plate and the frame in a position for sealing attachment to the substrate.

Abstract: A method for detection of emissions levels during extended engine speed controlled operation is provided. The method includes monitoring mass airflow passing through the engine while operating the engine. The method further includes adjusting mass airflow responsive to engine speed to maintain a desired engine speed. The method further includes shutting down the engine when engine mass airflow becomes higher than a predetermined mass airflow threshold.