Abstract: Automotive load cells having centralized, multi-axis, loose tolerance overload/limit stops provide improved strain gauge response. The modular, integrated stop assemblies magnify sensor substrate deflection by use of opposed concave (Belleville) springs are used in direct contact with the substrate to accommodate ±Z axis deflection and Mx/My moment angular rotation. A flanged guide member on the load stud permits a wide range of geometries. The substrate is thickened around the load stud hole and the outboard support bolt holes. Hollow rivets assist in design modularity. Strain gauges are placed at the yield zones symmetrically with respect to the X axis. The substrate hole Mx/My gap is larger than the stop bracket hole to insure a positive stop for Mx/My moments prior to yield. The inventive multi-axis stop assembly is used in any type load cell, including rectangular, thinned, notched, necked/dogbone, or cantilever substrates with any strain gauge layout configuration.

Abstract: A movable wall for separating an interior of a housing for a brake booster into a first chamber and a second chamber. The movable wall is characterized by a diaphragm, a backing plate and a hub member. The diaphragm has a peripheral bead secured to the housing and an axial bead located in a groove in a cylindrical body of the hub member. The groove has a front face that is separated from a rear face by an arcuate transition surface located between a bottom of the groove and the front face. The axial bead has a profile corresponding to the groove and an arcuate lip that extends from a rear surface. The lip is connected by a convolute to a radial section of the disc portion of the diaphragm while the backing plate has an axial opening surrounded by a radial surface that engages the front face of the groove. The axial bead engages the radial surface to urge the radial annular surface into engagement with the front face of the groove while sealing the front chamber from the rear chamber.

Abstract: A tandem brake booster has a housing defined by a front shell that is joined to a rear shell to create an interior cavity. The interior cavity is divided by first and second diaphragm assemblies that are separated by a partition member to respectively isolate a first chamber from a second chamber and a third chamber from a fourth chamber. The first and third chambers are connected to fluid having a substantially constantly first pressure while the second and fourth chambers are connected to selectively receive the fluid at the first pressure or fluid at a second pressure. The partition member is characterized by a disc with a cylindrical body extending from a ledge formed on a peripheral surface of the disc and a flange located on the cylindrical body between the ledge and an end face of the cylindrical body.

Abstract: A brake booster having a housing is separated into a first chamber and a second chamber by a wall connected to a hub. The hub has a cylindrical body with an axial bore that retains a control valve for sequentially connecting the first chamber with the second chamber to provide for the equalization of fluid pressure therein to define a first mode of operation and interrupting communication between the first and second chambers while connecting the second chamber to a surrounding environment to allow air to enter into the second chamber and create a pressure differential across the wall to defining a second mode of operation. The pressure differential acts on the wall to develop an output force that pressurize fluid to effect a brake application. The brake booster is characterized by a first input member responsive to a manual input and a second input member responsive to an ECU for moving the control valve from the first mode to the second mode to respectively develop first and second brake applications.

Abstract: A tandem brake booster has a housing defined by a front shell that is joined to a rear shell to create an interior cavity. The interior cavity is divided by first and second diaphragm assemblies that are separated by a partition member to respectively isolate a first chamber from a second chamber and a third chamber from a fourth chamber. The first and third chambers are connected to fluid having a substantially constantly first pressure while the second and fourth chambers are connected to selectively receive the fluid at the first pressure or fluid at a second pressure. The partition member is characterized by a disc with a cylindrical body extending from a ledge formed on a peripheral surface of the disc and a flange located on the cylindrical body between the ledge and an end face of the cylindrical body.

Abstract: A method of determining a camshaft position. The method comprises determining temperatures, measuring camshaft deviations, and determining a camshaft deviation gradient. Embodiments of the invention may also take the form of a camshaft position temperature compensation system having a memory, a gradient processing module, a temperature sensor, a camshaft position sensor, and an approximation module.

Abstract: A method of determining a camshaft position. The method comprises determining temperatures, measuring camshaft deviations, and determining a camshaft deviation gradient. Embodiments of the invention may also take the form of a camshaft position temperature compensation system having a memory, a gradient processing module, a temperature sensor, a camshaft position sensor, and an approximation module.

Abstract: A contact button is configured to move along a resistor path of a potentiometer in a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction. The contact button includes a body having a first end configured to lead the body when the contact button moves in the first direction, and a second end configured to lead the body when the contact button moves in the second direction. At least one of the first and second ends are generally wedge-shaped to facilitate moving debris out of a path of the contact button as the contact button moves along the resistor path.

Abstract: A superregenerative oscillator RF receiver having a differential output that has the advantage of providing an improved operating range and increased receiver sensitivity without affecting receiver cost or current requirements. The present invention comprises a receiver that has a super-regenerative oscillator from which the demodulated output is taken in differential form. This is achieved by generating collector and emitter output signals, low pass filtering both signals, and then combining them in a difference amplifier. The resulting waveform contains approximately twice the signal content than would be yielded from a singled-ended circuit. The preferred embodiment of present invention can also achieve quench noise cancellation with proper layout and the use of a common mode low pass filter followed by a difference amplifier.

Abstract: An intake manifold assembly includes an intake manifold having an intake passageway and a fuel injector in communication with the intake passageway. At least a portion of the fuel injector is molded into the intake manifold such that liquid fuel and hydrocarbon emissions are substantially prevented from leaking outside of the intake manifold.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for supporting a load-bearing platform (e.g., a seat) and measuring the weight of a load (e.g., an occupant) on the platform. The apparatus can include a base or support, a lever coupled to the support, and a sensor. The lever can be pivotally coupled to the support to allow pivotal movement of the lever with respect to the support in response to weight applied to the platform. The sensor can detect the force transmitted by the lever to determine the weight of the load on the platform. Furthermore, the lever can isolate the vertical load on the platform due to the weight of the load from other extraneous, non-vertical forces on the platform.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for supporting a load-bearing platform (e.g., a seat) and measuring the weight of a load (e.g., an occupant) on the platform. The apparatus can include a base or support, a lever coupled to the support, and a sensor. The lever can be pivotally coupled to the support to allow pivotal movement of the lever with respect to the support in response to weight applied to the platform. The sensor can detect the force transmitted by the lever to determine the weight of the load on the platform. Furthermore, the lever can isolate the vertical load on the platform due to the weight of the load from other extraneous, non-vertical forces on the platform.

Abstract: A corner module for use in a motor vehicle having a bearing pack through which a wheel hub for the motor vehicle is connected with a support member. The bearing pack includes an inner race and an outer race for retaining first and second roller elements such that a wheel attached to the hub may rotate with respect to the support member. The bearing pack is characterized by an exciter ring that is located between the first and second roller elements and the outer race is characterized by an opening that is in radial alignment with the exciter ring. A sensor that is fixed to the support member has a functional length and a sensing area that extends through the radial opening in the outer race and into the bearing pack to a position adjacent the exciter ring such that the functional length and sensing area is protected from exposure to contamination that may be present in the environment.

Abstract: A master cylinder having a housing with first and second bores that are connected to a same circuit in a braking system. A first piston is sealingly retained in the first bore to define a first chamber and a second piston is sealingly retained in the second bore to define a second chamber. The first piston has of a first cylindrical member that is connected to a second cylindrical member by a shaft. The shaft includes an actuation and a retraction ramp that terminate at an apex. An input force applied to the second cylindrical member is directly applied through the shaft to the first cylindrical member and through the actuation and retraction ramps to the second piston to respectively communicate fluid simultaneously to the same circuit.

Abstract: A fuel pump module includes a reservoir configured to hold a supply of fuel. The reservoir includes a fuel passageway and defines a first seat on a first side of the fuel passageway and a second seat on a second side of the fuel passageway. The module also includes a seal configured to be seated on the first and second seats to substantially seal the fuel passageway, and a weight biasing the seal toward the first and second seats by contacting the seal only at a location between the first and second seats. A gap may be defined between the weight and the seal, allowing fuel to enter the gap and further bias the seal toward the seats.

Abstract: An exhaust gas sensor includes a sensor element configured to communicate with an exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine, and a contact pin assembly including a first portion configured to be electrically connected to the sensor element when the contact pin assembly is installed in the exhaust gas sensor. The contact pin assembly also includes a second portion configured to be connected to the first portion in either of a first configuration, in which the contact pin assembly has a first overall length, and a second configuration, in which the contact pin assembly has a second overall length less than the first overall length. The second portion is selectively connected to the first portion in the first configuration or the second configuration depending on a length of the exhaust gas sensor.

Abstract: An exhaust gas sensor includes a sensor element configured to communicate with an exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine, and a contact pin assembly including a first portion configured to be electrically connected to the sensor element when the contact pin assembly is installed in the exhaust gas sensor. The contact pin assembly also includes a second portion configured to be connected to the first portion in either of a first configuration, in which the contact pin assembly has a first overall length, and a second configuration, in which the contact pin assembly has a second overall length less than the first overall length. The second portion is selectively connected to the first portion in the first configuration or the second configuration depending on a length of the exhaust gas sensor.

Abstract: The motor of an automotive cooling fan system is attached to a housing by either bayonet mount, screw mount, or axial-snap features on both motor and housing, as well as a cradle structure on the housing.

Abstract: A brake booster (10) having a housing defined by joining a substantially circular first shell (12) to a second shell (14) to compress a first bead (100,200) on a diaphragm (102,202) secured to a movable wall (76) and seal an interior thereof from the surrounding environment. The movable wall (76) includes a hub (44) with a disc (74) having an annular groove (70) located adjacent a peripheral surface (72) for receiving a second bead (104,204) on the diaphragm (102,202). The diaphragm (102,202) is characterized by a resulting cylindrical body (116,216) with a first section (215) that transitions from the first bead (100,200) and a second section (217) that transitions from the second bead (104,204). The first (100,200) and second (104,204) beads each have an initial oval shape that is stretched into a circular shape for respective retention between the first (12) and second (14) shells and annular groove (70) in sealing a front chamber (50) from a rear chamber (52).