Abstract: A structure and method for adjusting the bandwidth of a ceramic waveguide filter comprising, in one embodiment, a monoblock of dielectric ceramic material defining respective steps and respective input/output through-holes extending through the monoblock and the respective steps. In one embodiment, the steps are defined by notches in the monoblock and the input/output through-holes define openings terminating in the notch. The bandwidth of the ceramic waveguide filter may be adjusted by adjusting the height/thickness and direction of the steps relative to an exterior surface of the monoblock and/or the diameter of the input/output through-holes.

Abstract: A vehicle pedal assembly with a rotatable pedal. A hysteresis assembly includes a friction device and plunger, and first and second springs that are all separate and decoupled from each other and the pedal. The first spring exerts a force against the friction plunger that forces the friction device into frictional contact with the housing to generate and transfer a resistance force to the pedal. The first spring also exerts a force against the pedal when a foot force is removed from the pedal to return the pedal to idle with and without the movement of the friction device and without the force of the second spring. The second spring exerts a force against the friction device when the foot force is removed to return the pedal to idle without the force of the first spring. Barriers block the entry of debris into the housing.

Abstract: A sensor used to sense the position of an attached movable object. The sensor can be mounted to a pneumatic actuator. The sensor includes a housing that has a pair of cavities or pockets separated by a wall. A magnet carrier is positioned within one of the cavities and a magnet is coupled to the magnet carrier. The magnet carrier is coupled to the moveable object. A magnetic sensor is positioned in the other of the cavities. The magnetic sensor generates an electrical signal that is indicative of a position of the movable object.

Abstract: A PZT (lead zirconate titanate) element including one or more outside surfaces including a layer of encapsulation and metallization material and the method of making the same including at least the steps of providing a wafer of ceramic material including a base and one or more walls defining one or more recesses in the wafer which are filled with an encapsulation material. The encapsulation material is then cured and a layer of metallization is applied to one or more of the outside surfaces of the wafer and encapsulation material. Cuts are then made through the layer of metallization and cured encapsulation material to divide the wafer into a plurality of individual and separate ceramic elements with one or more surfaces including a layer of metallization and encapsulation.

Abstract: A reverse battery protection circuit for an actuator or the like. The circuit includes at least a first transistor and a second transistor which is coupled to both the first transistor and a voltage supply in a manner wherein the second transistor is adapted to turn the first transistor off in the event of an interruption in the voltage supply.

Abstract: A binarization device for payment or accounting documents including sensitive data located in respective data window provides a primary binarized document file of the document; a memory stores identification files including identifying images and location information associated to given types of documents; the data window can be identified and localized as comparison with the identification files of the memory; the contribution of the background is subtracted from the window file, the window file is binarized and filtered for spurious pixels obtaining a binarized window file; the binarized document file and the binarized window file are merged to provide the binarized window file in the data window; the evidence of the significant pixel is obtained by sequential analysis on groups of pixels, applying morphological expansion operators on each group of pixels and following erosion of said group of pixels.

Abstract: An actuator and sensor assembly comprising respective sensor and actuator housings defining an interior chamber. Clips on the sensor housing engage the actuator housing for coupling the sensor and actuator housings together. The sensor housing includes a wall defining a pocket. A connector with a sensor couples to the sensor housing in a relationship wherein the sensor extends into the sensor housing pocket. A movable piston is located in the interior chamber and a tube thereon defines a receptacle for a magnet located adjacent the pocket. The piston is seated on a flexible diaphragm. An actuator shaft includes one end coupled to the piston and an opposite end coupled to a movable object. A plurality of pins in the actuator housing mount the assembly to a support bracket. The sensor senses changes in the magnetic field in response to changes in the position of the magnet relative to the sensor.

Abstract: A magnetic sensing device including a U-shaped magnet with a pair of legs and a base defining a first interior channel and a distal plane. A sensor assembly in the first interior channel includes a sensor that extends above the distal plane. The magnet generates a first region of low or no flux above the distal plane in a first position of the magnet, a second region of low or no magnetic flux in the interior channel in a second position of the magnet, and a third region of magnetic flux above the distal plane in the second position of the magnet which causes the sensor to activate a control signal. The base includes steps and a second interior channel that opens into the first interior channel.

Abstract: A sensor assembly for sensing a movable object which, in one embodiment, includes a housing defining an interior cavity. A rotor is retained in the cavity. The rotor defines a central bore and a magnet is mounted in an off-center pocket defined by the rotor. The rotor is coupled to the shaft of the movable object whose position is to be measured. A sensor is also retained in the cavity in a relationship at least partially overlying the magnet and adapted to sense at least the direction of the magnetic field generated by the magnet to generate an electrical signal indicative of the position of the movable object. In another embodiment, the rotor and sensor are mounted in separate interior housing cavities separated by an interior housing wall.

Abstract: A combination RF filter and printed circuit board assembly wherein the RF filter is defined by a block of dielectric material including at least first and second side surfaces. A metal bracket with a plurality of fingers is secured to each of the first and second side surfaces. The fingers on the brackets extend through respective apertures in the printed circuit board and are soldered to the printed circuit board. The brackets relieve and transfer the thermal and mechanical stresses that result from use of a filter and printed circuit board that are made of materials with different thermal and mechanical characteristics and reduce the risk of cracking or damage to the filter, the printed circuit board, and the solder joints during use.

Abstract: A sensor assembly for sensing a movable object which, in one embodiment, includes a housing defining an interior cavity. A rotor is retained in the cavity. The rotor defines a central bore and a magnet is mounted in an off-center pocket defined by the rotor. The rotor is coupled to the shaft of the movable object whose position is to be measured. A sensor is also retained in the cavity in a relationship at least partially overlying the magnet and adapted to sense at least the direction of the magnetic field generated by the magnet to generate an electrical signal indicative of the position of the movable object. In another embodiment, the rotor and sensor are mounted in separate interior housing cavities separated by an interior housing wall.

Abstract: A vehicle pedal comprising a housing for a pedal arm with a drum, a rotor coupled to the drum and including a contactor that slides against a strip of resistive material in the housing, and an assembly for setting and locking the index position of the rotor. In one embodiment, the rotor extends through a window that is defined in the housing and limits the movement of the rotor during the index setting operation. In one embodiment, a plastic pin that is either separate from or unitary with the rotor is fitted into a slot defined in the drum. In another embodiment, a potting material is deposited and cured in the slot in the drum for locking the pin in the slot. In another embodiment, the pin is unitary with the drum of the pedal arm and is press-fitted into a slot in the rotor. In a further embodiment, the drum and rotor include respective plates and the pin is a clip that locks the plates together.

Abstract: A brushless rotary actuator comprises a housing including a motor housing defining a cavity for a motor assembly and a cover defining a cavity for a gear assembly. The motor assembly includes a rotor and a stator with a plurality of bobbins. A clip in the form of a ring plate is seated against the bobbins for retaining the bobbins on the stator. Fingers formed on the ring plate are fitted into respective slots defined by respective bobbin terminals. A circuit board is seated in the housing against an interior shoulder of the motor housing. A plate is seated in the housing against a peripheral rim of the motor housing in a spaced relationship above the circuit board.

Abstract: A dielectric waveguide filter comprising a block of dielectric material covered with an exterior layer of conductive material. A plurality of stacked resonators are defined in the block of dielectric material by one or more slots in the block of dielectric material and an interior layer of conductive material that separates the stacked resonators. First and second RF signal transmission windows in the interior layer of conductive material provide for both direct and cross-coupling RF signal transmission between the stacked resonators. In one embodiment, the waveguide filter is comprised of separate blocks of dielectric material each covered with an exterior layer of conductive material, each including one or more slots defining a plurality of resonators, and coupled together in a stacked relationship.

Abstract: An actuator and sensor assembly comprising respective sensor and actuator housings defining an interior chamber. Clips on the sensor housing engage the actuator housing for coupling the sensor and actuator housings together. The sensor housing includes a wall defining a pocket. A connector with a sensor couples to the sensor housing in a relationship wherein the sensor extends into the sensor housing pocket. A movable piston is located in the interior chamber and a tube thereon defines a receptacle for a magnet located adjacent the pocket. The piston is seated on a flexible diaphragm. An actuator shaft includes one end coupled to the piston and an opposite end coupled to a movable object. A plurality of pins in the actuator housing mount the assembly to a support bracket. The sensor senses changes in the magnetic field in response to changes in the position of the magnet relative to the sensor.

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 system and method are provided for transmitting a broadband interference signal and allowing communication through the transmitted interference signal. The system includes an interference transmitter for transmitting the interference signal, the interference transmitter having a transmitter feeder and a first antenna; a radio receiver for receiving a radio signal, the radio receiver having a radio feeder and a second antenna collocated with the first antenna of the interference transmitter; a steering signal generator for introducing at least one steering signal into the interference signal at the transmit feeder; a first directional coupler for sampling a portion of the interference signal that includes at least one of the steering signals; a negative feedback loop for adjusting the amplitude and phase of the sampled portion of the interference signal; and a second directional coupler for coupling the adjusted sampled portion of the interference signal into the radio feeder.

Abstract: A storing and issuing device (11) for banknotes (12) and/or other flexible documents, for use in an equipment for the automatic processing of banknotes, in which the storing and issuing device includes a taking-up roller (50), a motor (60) for the taking-up roller, at least one transport belt (52) provided for wrapping on the taking-up roller (50) together with the banknotes (12) and holding means (53, 54, 79) actuatable for causing an entering banknote Bn(n) to be engaged with the transport belt (52). The storing and issuing device (11) comprises an electronic unit (65) for the holding means (53, 54, 79) and the motor (60) for the taking-up roller, for causing the entering banknote to be stored on the taking-up roller, with void space queuing providing substantial contact between the input edge of the entered banknote Bn(n) and the output edge of a last stored banknote Bn(n?1).

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus useful for filling containers by means of a rotating turret which is configured to rotate the containers through the container-filing apparatus to a dosing portion where they are then are filled with material by way of a tamping mechanism. The container-filling apparatus may also include a container-conveying means to move the containers to the rotating turret. Methods of filling containers by using container-filling apparatuses according to embodiments of the invention are also disclosed.

Abstract: A throttle twist grip controller assembly includes a rotatable hand grip, a throttle housing coupled to the hand grip, and a ring potentiometer assembly located in the throttle housing. In one embodiment, the ring potentiometer assembly is fitted and supported on a sleeve associated with the throttle housing. A ring rotor is seated in the ring potentiometer assembly, surrounds the sleeve of the throttle housing, and includes at least a first tab which couples the rotor to the hand grip for rotation with the hand grip. A second tab on the rotor holds a potentiometer conductor. A spring is fitted and supported on the sleeve of the throttle housing. One end of the spring is coupled to the hand grip and the other end is coupled to the throttle housing for returning the hand grip to idle.