Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a structural element of a backrest. A through-loading opening is provided in the element. The element includes a metal plate with a reinforcing plate secured to it. A channel in the element is provided in at least some of its circumference or periphery. The channel is hollow and a reinforcing profile is inserted into the channel.

Abstract: A system for providing user interface functionality based on a location of a vehicle including a first vehicle electronic system and a second vehicle electronic system includes a user interface having at least one configurable input device, the user interface coupled to the first vehicle electronic system and the second vehicle electronic system, a control circuit coupled to the user interface and configured to determine a functionality of the at least one configurable input device, a navigation data source coupled to the control circuit and configured to provide location data for the vehicle and a memory coupled to the control circuit and the navigation data source, the memory configured to store location data associated with the first vehicle electronic system, wherein the control circuit determines the functionality of the at least one configurable input device based on the location of the vehicle and the location associated with the first vehicle electronic system.

Abstract: A track assembly for a vehicle seat includes a first track (22) having a first portion and a second track (24) coupled to the first track (22). The track assembly also includes a first set (104,106) and a second set (108, 110) of friction reducing members provided at first and second locations between the first track and the second track to facilitate sliding movement of the second track (24) relative to the first track (22). A device for preventing the sliding movement of the second track is provided that includes a pin configured to lock the second track in place relative to the first track by engaging a first portion (38) of the first track (22), a first portion (68) of the second track (24), and a second portion (70) of the second track (24). The pin extends between the first set (104) of friction reducing members and the second set (106) of friction reducing members when the second track is prevented from sliding.

Abstract: A device for blocking and adjusting the inclination of fittings, such as a recliner mechanism, a vehicle seat, has a first fitting part which has a latch tooth, and a latching element (2) which has a mating latch tooth, the latch tooth and the mating latch tooth are brought into engagement and arrested in the engagement position by means of a clamping element under the force of a spring, acts on the latching element and is movable counter to the force of the spring via adjusting means. The clamping element has a toothing in which is engaged by a mating toothing situated on a toothed element, the force of the spring acts on the toothed element and acts indirectly on the clamping element via the toothing and mating toothing.

Abstract: Systems and methods for improved Variable Speed Drives are provided. One embodiment relates to apparatus for common mode and differential mode filtering for motor or compressor bearing protection when operating with Variable Speed Drives, including conducted EMI/RFI input power mains mitigation. Another embodiment relates to a method to extend the synchronous operation of an Active Converter to the AC mains voltage during complete line dropout. Another embodiment relates to an Active Converter-based Variable Speed Drive system with Improved Full Speed Efficiency. Another embodiment relates to a liquid- or refrigerant-cooled inductor. The liquid- or refrigerant-cooled inductor may be used in any application where liquid or refrigerant cooling is available and a reduction in size and weight of a magnetic component is desired.

Abstract: A system for displaying vehicle location information in a vehicle includes a current location detection device configured to provide location data for a first location of the vehicle representing the vehicle's current location, a vehicle speed sensor configured to provide vehicle speed data and a database of road network information configured to include at least one of street names and addresses along the streets thereon. The location data may include a direction of travel for the vehicle. A microprocessor coupled to the current location detector, the vehicle speed sensor and the database, the microprocessor is configured to determine a second location of the vehicle at a predetermined time in the future based on the location data and vehicle speed data and to determine a position identifier corresponding to the second location of the vehicle. A display is coupled to the microprocessor and is configured to display the position identifier.

Abstract: A method of making a battery plate includes mixing particles of tetrabasic lead sulfate with leady oxide to form a paste material. The particles have an average spherical particle diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers. The method also includes providing at least a portion of the paste material on a battery grid curing the battery grid and paste material at a temperature of less than approximately 48 degrees Celsius to produce a battery plate having a cured paste thereon.

Abstract: A system for selecting a user speech profile for a device in a vehicle includes a control module having a speech recognition system and a memory. The speech recognition system is configured to process audio signals and includes a speaker enrollment function configured to create a user speech profile for at least one user. The memory is configured to store a plurality of user speech profiles created by the speaker enrollment function. The system may include an external device configured to transmit a control signal to the vehicle including an identifier. Alternatively, the system may include a user input device configured to receive an input command from a user that includes an identifier. The control module uses the identifier to select a user speech profile from the plurality of user speech profiles and the speech recognition system uses the selected user speech profile to process audio signals from the user.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for operation of a multiple fuel engine, which runs on a combination of two or more fuels. An electronic control unit (ECU) may be connected to the existing components of an engine system in order to control operation of the multiple fuel engine. The engine system may be mechanically governed or electronically controlled. The ECU inputs operating characteristics of the engine system, determines governing characteristics for multiple fuel operation based on the operating characteristics, and controls the amounts of fuel delivered to the engine based on the governing characteristics. In a preferred embodiment, a dual fuel engine operates using diesel as a first fuel and natural gas as a second fuel. The operating characteristics may include engine speed, throttle position, engine exhaust temperature, gas pressure of the second fuel, gas temperature of the second fuel, boost pressure of an intake manifold, or engine coolant temperature.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of identifying a system is disclosed. The method comprises estimating at least one parameter in a second-order model of the system, and approximating at least one parameter in a first-order model of the system from the at least one second-order model parameter. The method may also comprise sampling an input to the system, sampling an output from the system. The apparatus comprises a device for estimating at least one parameter in a second-order model of the system, and device for approximating at least one parameter in a first-order model of the system from the at least one second-order model parameter.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for scaling performance indicators of control applications in an environmental control system. The method and system include receiving more than one performance indicator from a first control application, wherein the first control application includes a modulating control output and receiving more than one performance indicator from a second control application, wherein the second control application includes a staged-control output. The method and system further include identifying a probability distribution, wherein the probability distribution is characteristic of a fault-free environmental control system and calculating probability distributions associated with the performance indicators of the first and second control applications. The method and system also include displaying the probability distributions of the first and second control applications on a common scale.

Abstract: A system for providing communication between a vehicle and a plurality of wireless devices includes a receiver configured to receive wireless signals from the wireless devices. The received wireless signals are provided in accordance with a communication standard from the plurality of communication standards. The system also includes a wireless data transfer module coupled to the receiver and configured to support the plurality of communication standards, process the wireless signals and direct the data of the wireless signals to a corresponding vehicle system. The system may include a transmitter coupled to the wireless data transfer module. The transmitter is configured to transmit wireless signals from the vehicle to the wireless devices. The wireless data transfer module receives data from a vehicle system and provides the data to the transmitter in accordance with a communication standard from the plurality of communication standards.

Abstract: A trainable transceiver for learning and transmitting an activation signal that includes an RF carrier frequency modulated with a code for remotely actuating a device, such as a garage door opener. The trainable transceiver preferably includes a controller, a signal generator, and a dynamically tunable antenna having a variable impedance that may be selectively controlled in accordance with a detector circuit signal. The detector circuit provides a measurement of the transmission power and is also used to vary the applied transmission power of the transceiver in response to operating and environmental parameters.

Abstract: A liquid refrigerant drainage mechanism is described for use in a flooded evaporator to mitigate liquid carryover. The drainage mechanism can trap liquid refrigerant droplets, create a liquid column to overcome a pressure difference across the mechanism and drain liquid back to the pool in the evaporator. The drainage mechanism is disposed in a suction baffle, and has a mesh pad and a tapered pipe secured to the bottom of the baffle. The pipe has a drainage aperture at one end to allow the accumulated liquid refrigerant to return to the refrigerant pool below. The mesh pad helps to separate liquid droplets that coalesce and fall into the tapered pipe. By using this liquid drainage mechanism in conjunction with a suction baffle, liquid carryover can be reduced and chiller performance improved.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a capacitance sensing apparatus equipped with self-calibrating capacity and method of use thereof. The disclosure contemplates the determination using a secondary means of precise fluid levels according to five possible embodiments, and the use of the determined fluid level to recalibrate the capacitance sensing apparatus along its continuous analog level, namely, a variation of the thickness of the insulation of a capacitance sensing apparatus, the variation of the surface geometry of the capacitance sensing apparatus, the use of a dual-probe sensor including a probe with a varied surface geometry, the use of an electromagnetic sensor adjoining the capacitance sensor, and the variation of the electromechanical sensor to serve as a capacitance sensing apparatus. The disclosure also contemplates methods for using the sensing apparatus previously disclosed to measure a fluid level using a self-calibrating capacitance sensing apparatus.

Abstract: A recliner mechanism for a vehicle seat includes a toothed sector member secured to a seat frame and first and second pivoted pawl members each including a plurality of teeth to engage the teeth of the sector member. The first and second pawl members also each pivot on a cam pin member located at a distal end thereof, the cam pins each have a center axis and an offset axis having by a toothed cam lobe. The toothed cam lobes mesh such that rotation of one cam pin member causes the other cam pin member to totate in the opposite direction. A handle is coupled to at least one of the cam pin members to rotate the cam pin members and cause the pawl members to rotate about a pin connecting the proximal ends of the pawl members. The pawl members are movable between a first or locked position and a second or unlocked position, permitting the seat back to be adjusted with respect to the seat base against the force of a spring.

Abstract: The compass system of the present invention utilizes an improved calibration route in which a processing circuit of the compass recalibrates the compass each time three data points are obtained from a magnetic field sensor that meet predetermined criteria. One such criterion is that the three data points define corners of a triangle that is substantially non-obtuse. When three data points have been obtained that define a triangle meeting this criterion, the processing circuit calculates a center point for a circle upon which all three data points lie by solving the equation x2+y2+Ax+By+C=0 for A, B, and C, using the coordinate values (x,y) for the three data points and defining the center point as (?A/2, ?B/2).

Abstract: A tool for the analysis of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, methods for performing various analyses of an HVAC system with the tool, and a computer executable program used by the tool to perform the analyses are disclosed. The tool includes a processing machine, a database, a memory device having a software program executable by the processing machine, and a display device. The database stores information on each of a plurality of HVAC components and the software program is configured to identify and access information pertaining to at least one HVAC unit in an HVAC system from the database and is configured to generate a wiring diagram using the accessed information from the database that is displayed to the display device.

Abstract: A device for electrically connecting a plurality of batteries includes a member including a handle and two arms extending from the handle. The handle includes a first portion, a second portion spaced apart from the first portion, and a connector extending between the first portion and the second portion. The member also includes a contact coupled to a first of the two arms for contacting at least a portion of a battery terminal when the device is secured to a battery. The first of the two arms is configured for securing the device to a first side of a battery and a second of the two arms is configured for securing the device to a second side of the battery.