Abstract: An RF dielectric waveguide duplexer filter module with antenna and lower and upper Tx and Rx signal transmission blocks of dielectric material attached together in a side-by-side and stacked relationship. The blocks are covered with conductive material. Antenna and Tx and Rx input/outputs are defined at opposite ends of the filter module. RF signal transmission windows define direct coupling RF signal transmission paths between the antenna and the Tx and Rx blocks and between the lower and upper Tx and Rx blocks. One or more bridges of dielectric material on the lower Tx and Rx blocks define inductive cross-coupling Tx and Rx signal transmission paths. The Tx signal is transmitted only in the direction of the antenna block or between the upper and lower Tx blocks. The Rx signal is transmitted only in the direction of the Rx RF signal input/output or between the upper and lower Rx blocks.

Abstract: A radio frequency sensor module adapted for mounting a vehicle exhaust system structure. A bracket on the module includes a first mounting ear defining a first through aperture. A printed circuit board is coupled to the bracket. A cover defines an opening and an interior cavity in communication with the opening. The bracket and the cover are coupled together in a relationship with the printed circuit board extending through the opening in the cover and into the interior cavity of the cover and the first and second mounting ears in an abutting and overlying relationship. A mounting bolt extends through the respective first and second through apertures in the respective first and second mounting ears for securing the radio frequency module to the housing of a vehicle exhaust system.

Abstract: A radio frequency antenna comprising an inner conductor or antenna surrounded by and spaced from an outer sleeve, the space between the inner conductor and the outer sleeve being filled with a granular or powder insulating material. A sealant material covers a first end of the outer sleeve for sealing and retaining the insulating material in the antenna. A method of making the antenna includes the step of bending the inner antenna and the outer sleeve during assembly following the steps of filling the space between the inner conductor and the outer sleeve with the insulating material and sealing the insulating material in the antenna. In one embodiment, the radio frequency antenna is adapted for transmitting and receiving radio frequency signals in a radio frequency vehicle exhaust control and sensor system.

Abstract: An electronic vehicle clutch pedal comprising a pedal housing and a pedal arm coupled to and rotatable relative to the housing and including a distal drum rotatable relative to the pedal housing and defining a contact surface including at plurality of surface segments with different slopes. A force lever is pivotable about the pedal housing and has a first end abutted against the contact surface on the drum of the pedal arm. A compressible member has a first end abutted against a lower surface of the pedal arm and a second end abutted against a second end of the force lever. The pedal arm is rotatable about the pedal housing to cause the pivoting of the force lever relative to the pedal housing and cause the first end of the compressible member to exert a variable force against the pedal arm.

Abstract: An axial brushless DC motor comprising a stator including a plurality of coils, a rotor including a magnet with a plurality of pairs of magnetic poles and adapted for movement relative to the stator in one or more full steps, and a coil phase circuit adapted for moving the rotor relative to the stator a fractional step less than the one or more full steps and/or holding the rotor at the fractional or one or more full steps.

Abstract: A vehicle pedal sensor assembly for use in a vehicle brake pedal including a base and a pedal arm pivotally mounted to the pedal base. A sensor housing includes a non-contacting pedal position sensor and a contacting pedal force sensor. The sensor housing is mounted to the base of the vehicle brake pedal. A magnet is mounted to the pedal arm. The pedal position sensor senses a change in the magnitude and/or direction of the magnetic field generated by the magnet in response to a change in the position of the pedal arm for determining the position of the pedal arm. A pedal force application member exerts a force against the pedal force sensor in response to the change in the position of the pedal arm for determining the position of the pedal arm. The force sensor may be a piezoelectric element, a load cell, or a strain gauge.

Abstract: A sensing and control system and method is disclosed, which utilizes cavity resonance and waveguide measurements to directly monitor process state variables or detect changes in the state of a system and provide direct in situ feedback control top optimize the process. The same system may be used to monitor a number of different process parameters including the composition, amount, distribution, and physical or chemical properties of a material, or to monitor the state or health of a system or sub-system. The system is broadly applicable to wide range of systems and process including ranging from engines and exhaust systems to production plants.

Abstract: A buckle, such as a vehicle seat belt buckle, operable between a buckled and unbuckled condition. A sensor integrated circuit in the buckle senses the buckled or unbuckled condition of the buckle and generates an electrical signal indicative of the buckled or unbuckled condition of the buckle. A RF integrated circuit in the buckle and in the form of a microcontroller integrated circuit with an RF signal transmitter receives the electrical signal generated by the sensor integrated circuit and transmits an RF signal indicative of the buckled or unbuckled condition of the buckle to a vehicle's control unit via an RF signal antenna in the buckle. A battery in the buckle provides power to the sensor and RF integrated circuits.

Abstract: A system and method provides a piezoelectric stack arrangement for reduced driving voltage while maintaining a driving level for active piezoelectric materials. A stack arrangement of d36 shear mode <011>single crystals of both air X-cut and Y-cut ±1:45° (±20°) arrangement are bonded with discrete conductive pillars to form a shear crystal stack. The bonding area between the neighboring crystal parts is minimized. The bonding pillars are positioned at less than a total surface are of the single crystal forming the stack. The stack fabrication is facilitated with a precision assembly system, where crystal parts are placed to desired locations on an assembly fixture for alignment following the preset operation steps. With the reduced clamping effect from bonding due to lower surface coverage of the discrete conductive pillars, such a piezoelectric d36 shear crystal stack exhibits a reduced driving voltage while maintaining a driving level and substantial and surprisingly improved performance.

Abstract: A radio frequency system and method for monitoring an engine-out exhaust emission constituent. The system comprises a housing containing the emission constituent, one or more radio frequency sensors extending into the housing and transmitting and receiving radio frequency signals, and a control unit for controlling the radio frequency signals and monitoring changes in the emission constituent based on changes in one or more parameters of the radio frequency signals. In one embodiment, the control unit measures a rate of change in one or more of the parameters of the radio frequency signals for monitoring a rate of change of the emission constituent including for example the emission rate, accumulation rate, and/or depletion rate of the emission constituent.

Abstract: A system and method for removing retentate from filters is disclosed, which utilizes pressurized and/or vacuum fluid through localized application. The disclosure describes a cleaning system and sequence of steps for carrying out the cleaning process, whereby, a fluid is directed to flow through a localized region of the filter media, thereby dislodging and removing accumulated retentate from the filter. In addition, the localized application of fluid flow allows for localized monitoring of the cleanliness of the filter with a high degree of spatial resolution. This filter retentate removal system and method is broadly applicable to a wide range of systems and processes ranging to engines and exhaust systems to production plants and equipment.

Abstract: An electronic vehicle clutch pedal comprising a pedal housing and a pedal arm coupled to and rotatable relative to the housing and including a distal drum rotatable relative to the pedal housing and defining a contact surface including at plurality of surface segments with different slopes. A force lever is pivotable about the pedal housing and has a first end abutted against the contact surface on the drum of the pedal arm. A compressible member has a first end abutted against a lower surface of the pedal arm and a second end abutted against a second end of the force lever. The pedal arm is rotatable about the pedal housing to cause the pivoting of the force lever relative to the pedal housing and cause the first end of the compressible member to exert a variable force against the pedal arm.

Abstract: A radio frequency sensor system comprising a housing defining a resonant cavity. Radio frequency probe(s) in the cavity transmit and/or receive radio frequency signals. A radio frequency control unit is in communication with the radio frequency probe(s) for determining one or more states of the radio frequency sensor system based on changes in the characteristics of the radio frequency signals. A machine learning system is in communication with the radio frequency control unit for identifying and developing transfer functions and calibrations based on the changes in the characteristics of the radio frequency signals and determining the one or more states of the radio frequency sensor system.

Abstract: A pre-loaded piezoelectric stack actuator comprising a stack of piezoelectric material. Caps are coupled at opposed ends of the stack. Each of the caps includes projecting fingers. Insulating plates are stacked between the ends of the stack and the caps. A pair of pre-loaded spring plates are coupled to the stack. The spring plates define slots. The fingers on the caps extend through respective ones of the slots at respective ends of the spring plates for coupling the spring plates to the stack. A method of pre-loading the piezoelectric stack actuator includes the step of mounting the stack, the caps, the insulating plates, and the spring plates in a pre-load tool that applies a pre-load tensile stretching force to the spring plates. The pre-load tensile force is subsequently released and the actuator is removed from the tool.

Abstract: A vehicle pedal sensor assembly for use in a vehicle brake pedal including a base and a pedal arm pivotally mounted to the pedal base. A sensor housing includes a non-contacting pedal position sensor and a contacting pedal force sensor. The sensor housing is mounted to the base of the vehicle brake pedal. A magnet is mounted to the pedal arm. The pedal position sensor senses a change in the magnitude and/or direction of the magnetic field generated by the magnet in response to a change in the position of the pedal arm for determining the position of the pedal arm. A pedal force application member exerts a force against the pedal force sensor in response to the change in the position of the pedal arm for determining the position of the pedal arm. The force sensor may be a piezoelectric element, a load cell, or a strain gauge.

Abstract: An actuator comprising a housing defining an interior cavity for a motor, gear assemblies, and a printed circuit overlying the motor and the gear assemblies. An elastomeric seal band is located between the housing and the cover for sealing the interior cavity of the housing. The seal band includes a plurality of compressible elastomeric beads that abut against the cover and exert a force against the printed circuit board respectively for preventing the vibration of the printed circuit board in the housing. A plurality of curved clips are received in respective clip brackets formed on the housing and the cover respectively for clamping a cover to the housing.

Abstract: A ceramic monoblock RF filter for the transmission of an RF signal comprising a block of dielectric material including opposed top and bottom surfaces, opposed longitudinal side surfaces, and opposed transverse side surfaces. A plurality of spaced apart through-hole resonators extend through the block and terminate in openings in the top and bottom surfaces of the block. A second plurality of grounded RF signal blocking through-holes extend through the block and terminate in respective openings in the top and bottom surfaces of the block. The grounded through-holes are located and positioned in a relationship off-set and on opposite sides of the first plurality of through-hole resonators for blocking the coupling of the RF signal between RF signal input/outputs and selected ones of the first plurality of resonators and also between non-adjacent ones of the first plurality of resonators.

Abstract: A filter retentate analysis system and method is disclosed, which provides information to diagnose the current and historical state of a system generating the retentate or through which the retentate has passed. The disclosure describes the analysis of retentate characteristics which may include the composition, amount, distribution, and physical or chemical properties of the retentate useful to monitor or diagnose the state, health, or operating history of a system or sub-system. The analysis is broadly applicable to wide range of systems and process ranging from engines and exhaust systems to production plants and equipment.

Abstract: A vehicle chassis sensor assembly comprising a housing member defining a sensor cartridge slot, a rotatable shaft with a magnet and retained in a sleeve, and a rotatable arm coupled to the shaft. A sensor cartridge is mounted in the slot through the interior of a connector socket and an opening between the slot and the connector socket. A plate on the sensor cartridge covers the opening. The sensor cartridge includes a terminal header and a separate board mounted to the terminal header. The board includes the sensor. Deformable posts on the terminal header and the sensor assembly extend through respective apertures in the board and the terminal header for securing the board and the sensor cartridge to the terminal header and the sensor assembly respectively.

Abstract: A rotary position sensor comprising a rotatable patterned ring magnet, which in one embodiment is mounted on the output shaft of an actuator, and includes a plurality of pairs of North and South Pole sections extending around the circumference of the ring magnet in an alternating relationship and defining a plurality of circumferentially extending magnetic field switch points spaced predetermined distances on the ring magnet corresponding to a plurality of predetermined unique positions of the ring magnet adapted for sensing by a switch such as Hall Effect switch. In one embodiment, the ring magnet includes a plurality of pairs of North and South Pole sections and switch points on the ring magnet of different predetermined lengths and predetermined locations respectively corresponding to a plurality of predetermined ring magnet positions to be sensed.