Abstract: A seat belt tension sensor for measuring the amount of tension in a vehicle seat belt. The seat belt tension sensor has a housing and an anchor plate that is mounted in the housing. The housing moves relative to the anchor plate. A magnet is held by the anchor plate. A sensor is mounted to the housing. The sensor generates an electrical signal in response to relative movement between the housing and the anchor plate. The electrical signal changes in proportion to the amount of tension on the seat belt. A spring is mounted in association with the housing and the anchor plate. The spring biases the housing from the anchor plate. An integral connector extends from the housing.

Abstract: An R-C network formed on a substrate. The capacitor includes a metal member with anodized and unanodized layers. The unanodized layer functions as one of the capacitor's electrodes. The anodized layer functions as the capacitor's dielectric layer. The resistor is formed from material on the same side of the substrate as the capacitor. In some versions of the invention, the resistor is formed on top of a substrate dielectric layer. In these versions of the invention, a conductor both functions as one of the capacitor's electrodes and connects the resistor to the capacitor. In alternative versions of the invention, the resistor is formed from a film that disposed on the undersurface a metal foil. The foil functions as the resistor to capacitor conductor. Sections of the foil that are removed expose and define the resistor. Solder balls or other connectors on the substrate surface connect the network to another component.

Abstract: A low profile ceramic filter for connection to an antenna, a transmitter and a receiver. The filter filters an incoming signal from the antenna to the receiver and an outgoing signal from the transmitter to the antenna. The filter has a ceramic core with through-holes that extend between sides of the core. The through-holes form coupled resonators and trap resonators. Two trap resonators are located at ends of the block, and two of the trap resonators are located in a central portion of the block. The coupled resonators are located between the end trap resonators and the trap resonators in the central portion. The trap resonators have a resonant frequency that is outside of the desired passband such that trap zeros or poles are provided.

Abstract: In a soft top vehicle roof which is movable between a closed position and an open storage position and comprises a vehicle roof cover material which is supported by a roof linkage, at least one linkage element of the roof linkage is provided with a reception space in which a seal element and a material web connected to an end portion of the roof cover material are firmly engaged and form-fittingly locked by clamping hooks extending from the inner walls of the reception space through openings in the material web and into recesses in the seal element.

Abstract: A pressure sensor for sensing a pressure level of a medium. The pressure sensor includes a rigid substrate having a medium contacting side and a pressure sensitive resistor mounted on the medium contacting side. The resistor exhibits a change in resistance in response to pressure changes on the resistor above a predetermined threshold. Other embodiments of the invention are shown using a wheatstone bridge with pressure sensitive resistors and resistors that are insensitive to pressure changes.

Abstract: A seat belt tension sensor for measuring the amount of tension in a vehicle seat belt. The seat belt tension sensor has a housing and an anchor plate that is mounted in the housing. The housing moves relative to the anchor plate. A magnet is affixed to the anchor plate. A sensor is mounted to the housing. The sensor generates an electrical signal in response to relative movement between the housing and the anchor plate. The electrical signal changes in proportion to the amount of tension on the seat belt. A spring is mounted between the housing and the anchor plate. The spring biases the housing from the anchor plate. An integral connector extends from the housing.

Abstract: A seat belt tension sensor for measuring the amount of tension in a vehicle seat belt. The seat belt tension sensor has a housing and an anchor plate. A lever is mounted in the housing. The lever holds a magnet. A sensor is mounted to the housing. The sensor generates an electrical signal in response to relative movement between the magnet and the sensor. The electrical signal changes in proportion to the amount of tension on the seat belt. A spring is mounted in association with the housing and the anchor plate. The spring biases the housing from the anchor plate.

Abstract: A pressure sensor for sensing a pressure level of a pressurized medium. The pressure sensor includes a housing that has a high pressure side, a low pressure side and an aperture. A substrate is located in the aperture. The substrate has a pair of ends and a center portion. The center portion is brazed to the housing in the aperture. The center portion seals the high pressure side from the low pressure side. A pressure sensitive resistor is mounted to one end of the substrate. A reference resistor is mounted to another end of the substrate. A circuit line is located on the substrate. The circuit line is connected between the pressure sensitive resistor and the reference resistor.

Abstract: A seat belt tension sensor assembly is adapted to be secured to the seat belt assembly of a vehicle. The assembly includes a housing for a seat belt anchor adapted for movement relative to the housing into an overload position where a portion of the anchor is abutted against a portion of the housing to limit and arrest the movement of the anchor relative to the housing and transfer the load from the anchor to the housing and then to an interior structure of the vehicle. In one embodiment, the housing forms a collar and the anchor includes an interior wall defining an aperture through which the collar extends when the anchor is mounted to the housing. Movement of the anchor relative to the housing is limited as a result of the contact between the interior anchor wall and the collar.

Abstract: A motor vehicle roof having at least two laterally adjacent parts with respect to the motor vehicle's longitudinal axis when the parts are in a closed position. The laterally adjacent parts may be moved between the closed position and an open position by moving one or both of the laterally adjacent parts in a translational movement parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. The laterally adjacent parts are retained between and parallel to two side roof frames that are permanently connected to the body. The laterally adjacent parts may be moved to an open position above or below a rear roof panel. The rear roof panel extends across the vehicle in a transverse direction between the side roof frames and is movable in a longitudinal direction to a position above or below the laterally adjacent roof panels. A front roof panel may be provided that may be raised on a back edge to provide a wind deflector.

Abstract: A joystick includes a base and a cover mounted over the base. A stick has a first end that extends from the cover and a second end. An active yoke is mounted above the base and is coupled to second end of the stick. The active yoke has a first and second end. The active yoke is adapted to be moved by the stick. A passive yoke is mounted over the active yoke and has a third and fourth end. The passive yoke is adapted to be moved by the stick. A first contactor is mounted to the first end and a second contactor is mounted to the third end. A first resistor is positioned between the first contactor and the cover and a second resistor is positioned between the second contactor and the cover. The resistors are adapted to generate an electrical signal that is indicative of a position of the stick. A switch is positioned in the base below the active yoke. The switch is activated when the stick is sufficiently depressed so as to cause the active yoke to contact the switch.

Abstract: An adjustable vehicle roof has a flexible cover supported by a cover rod assembly that may be moved between a raised position and a stored position. The cover rod assembly includes a first arch and a second arch. A rigid rear window is integrated into the cover material. The rear window is stored between the first support element and the second support element in the stored position.

Abstract: A ball grid array package includes a substrate with a top and bottom surface. A circuit component is located on the bottom surface. The circuit component has a pair of ends. A pair of conductors are located on the bottom surface. The conductors are connected to the ends of the circuit component. A conductive epoxy covers a portion of the conductors and a portion of the bottom surface. The conductive epoxy is in electrical contact with the conductors. A ball is connected to the conductive epoxy. The conductive epoxy provides an electrical connection between the conductor and the ball. The ball is preferably copper and is subsequently coated to prevent corrosion. Other embodiments of the invention are shown in which the balls are omitted and in which the conductive epoxy is used to fill vias in a substrate.

Abstract: A passenger car having a roof opening and a rear opening that are selectively covered by a segmented dimensionally stable roof and a rear lid, respectively. A linkage and actuator drive are common to the roof and rear lid. A supporting structure of the rear lid is connected to a rear roof section. The roof sections are connected by four bar linkages to adjacent sections. The angular position of a supporting link relative to the vehicle body is changed by the actuator drive.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is a modular card style radio-signal modem suitable for wireless data communication to a personal computer. The modem comprises a main circuit board substrate defining an opening, a card-to-computer connection interface operably linked to the circuit board, a radio transceiver on the circuit board in communication with the connection interface. The radio transceiver has a receiver input and a transmitter output. The card modem also includes a dielectric block antenna duplexer attached to the circuit board and suspended in the opening, the duplexer having a transmit signal input in electric communication with the transmitter output, a receive signal output in electric communication with the receiver input and an antenna connection electrode.

Abstract: A rear window for a flexible rear roof section of an openable roof vehicle. The rear window is comprised of a transparent plastic material such as a polycarbonate material, and a fastening section that connects the rear window to the flexible covering of the open roof vehicle. The fastening section forms a single piece with the rear window and is offset relative to the plane of the rear window.

Abstract: A tuneable frequency translator is disclosed having electrical circuitry mounted to a circuit board. The circuitry is designed to provide a phase-locked loop with a resonator. Compliant material is positioned between the resonator and the circuit board. Operably coupled to the resonator is at least one passive device that is short-circuited by an electrically conductive lead. The resonant frequency of the frequency translator can be changed by severing the electrically conductive lead, and thus activating the associated passive device.

Abstract: In an attachment system for elongated, transversely stiff fastening elements, the fastening elements are centered and rotatably fixed in place on fastening bolts of connecting units by terminal eyelets. The terminal eyelets open in the transverse direction and have insertable bushings that receive the bolts.

Abstract: A resistive composition for screen printing onto a substrate to form a cured film. The resistive composition, based on total composition, has a) 5–30 wt. % of polymer resin, b) 10–30 wt. % conductive particles selected from the group consisting of carbon black, graphite and mixtures thereof and c) 0.1–10 wt. % zirconia particles, wherein all of (a), (b), and (c) are dispersed in a 60–80 wt. % organic solvent. A cured resistive film composition is also disclosed.

Abstract: A roof for a passenger motor vehicle is disclosed that comprises at least a first roof element extending above the vehicle's passengers in the front seats of the vehicle. The first roof element may be moved along side roof frames and has a first transverse section that borders a second transverse of a second roof element. Recessed areas are provided between the first transverse section of the roof element and the second transverse section of the roof element. The recessed areas provide the front seat passengers with enlarged viewing areas.