Abstract: Apparatus comprising a decal disposed on an interior surface of a window and a light source for projecting light onto the to display an image outside of the vehicle. The decal comprises a protective layer having a hologram layer disposed thereon that is designed to transmit a holographic image in a predetermined viewing direction. An opaque and clear mask layer into which an icon is incorporated may be secured to the hologram layer to provide a two-dimensional image. The hologram layer is illuminated by sunlight, skylight, or a light source and projects an image to a viewer at a predefined direction. During the day, the icon is viewable because light transmits through the clear portions of the mask layer is clear, and is blocked by opaque portions of the mask layer that define the icon. At night, the decal is illuminated by light from a light source 18, or an exterior or ambient light source to produce an image viewable by the observer.

Abstract: Inductive charging systems comprising improved charging wands that are coupled between a source of power and a charging port that is coupled to a battery of an electric vehicle. The improvement provided by the present invention is that the charging wand has its magnetic core molded into its body. In one embodiment, a magnetic core is directly molded into the body of the charging wand. In another embodiment, the magnetic core is molded into a plastic ring that surrounds the core which in turn is secured into the body of the charging wand. The present invention improves the assembly process for charging wands by eliminating the wide tolerance range associated with core fabrication. Molding magnetic cores into the inductive charge wand eliminates the requirement for machining the side walls of the cores.

Abstract: A thick-film conductor paste and thick-film conductors formed therefrom. The conductor paste is composed of metallic particles coated with a ceramic layer that reduces leaching and solder diffusion into the conductor, thereby improving the reliability of the conductor-solder bond. The ceramic layer may be continuous or discontinuous, and may be applied to some or all of the particles of the conductor paste.

Abstract: A pressure sensor suitable for sensing low pressure environments. The pressure sensor includes a piezoresistive sensing element enclosed within a protective housing, and utilizes an insert molded into the housing for supporting the sensing element and concentrating stresses within the housing at a maximum distance from the sensing element. The insert is adapted to work in cooperation with a constraint to isolate the sensing element from stresses within the housing, so as to improve the electrical performance of the sensing element to low pressure environments, such as an evaporative emission system of an automobile.

Abstract: An inductive coupler having an antenna and primary winding formed as part of a single structure that can be readily and consistently produced using printed wiring board manufacturing techniques. The coupler has the primary winding and antenna are formed as part of a printed wiring board. A coupler housing having two mating coupler halves secures a center magnetic core and the printed wiring board therebetween. The coupler housing also secures a cable that is coupled between selected printed circuit layers of the primary winding and a power source for coupling energy to the charging coupler.

Abstract: The firing loop of a SIR system has a firing element, a capacitor for passing AC pulses to the element and an inductance which varies according to application. A current sensor monitors each pulse and detects a threshold crossing on the trailing side of the pulse, and a toggle circuit operates a switch arrangement to terminate the pulse and initiate the next pulse of opposite polarity. This current feedback circuit varies the pulse frequency according to the loop inductance but the RMS loop current is independent of inductance.

Abstract: An electronic circuit having a header and a heat rail on a circuit board requires a spring clamp to hold power components against the heat rail. A tool for applying a high insertion force on the spring clamp comprises a base which attaches to the heat rail and a handle pivotally mounted on the base, the handle including a cam portion positioned over the clamp location. Turning the handle rotates the cam against the clamp to press the clamp into the desired position.

Abstract: A circuit for providing a synchronizing signal based on detected ignition voltages in a coil-per-plug ignition system. In this type of ignition system, each spark plug has its own step-up transformer, typically packaged in close proximity to the spark plug itself. Normally, the plugs are fired individually to extend plug life, but according to this invention, at least two of the plugs are fired concurrently during engine cranking. During such operation, the circuit senses the voltages at the primary transformer windings of two different spark plugs to identify the respective spark plug firings, and the synchronizing signal is produced based on the sequence of the identified firings.

Abstract: An LC resonant circuit for a resonant converter includes a resonant capacitor and an inductor coupled to a fixed frequency AC supply. A controlled inductor in parallel with the resonant capacitor is controlled by a DC current to vary its inductance. The controlled inductor comprises a magnetic core having one or more power windings, and a control winding wound on the core. The DC current in the control winding produces core flux which effects core permeability. The controlled inductor has the effect of changing the capacitor impedance and thus influences the converter output. Multiple, independently controlled and regulated outputs may be driven by one power switching stage.

Abstract: A class 2 or UART data communication bus is subject to disruption by induce high frequency currents because of an impedance mismatch between a passive pull-up or pull-down resistor and a lower impedance active current sourcing or sinking stage. An impedance reduction circuit across the passive resistor balances the impedance in the presence of high frequency noise. The impedance reduction circuit is operative when it senses a bus line voltage slew rate greater than that caused by data pulses and a voltage change greater than one diode drop.

Abstract: An oil cooled inductive coupler for use with an inductive charging system that charges propulsion batteries of an electric vehicle. The coupler is connected to a power source by way of a coaxial cable that has power conductors for coupling power to the coupler, and cooling channels for coupling high dielectric strength cooling fluid to and from the coupler. The coupler has a housing with a flood box formed therein having an open interior that forms a conductor termination area. The cooling channels are coupled to the flood box, and the power conductors are terminated in the termination area and are exposed to the cooling fluid that is pumped therethrough to cool them. A heat exchanger having a fluid flow path therethrough is coupled to the flood box and permits the cooling fluid to circulate therethrough. A primary winding is secured or bonded to the heat exchanger, a magnetic puck is disposed in an opening in the heat exchanger, and upper and lower primary winding covers enclose the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A push-pull or forward switching power supply is operable over a voltage range of 4.5 to 40 volts at high efficiency. At low voltages a primary winding or pair of windings are activated by a PWM control to regulate the output current. At high voltages, an additional primary winding in series with each of the other winding or windings is also activated by a PWM control.

Abstract: A screen printing device for screen printing a thick film ink through a screen so as to form a highly-defined thick film on a surface of a microelectronics circuit. The screen printing device achieves the above by bypassing excess ink that would otherwise accumulate ahead of the squeegee device, thereby limiting the pressure lead length ahead of the device during the screen printing process. As such, the screen is able to form an adequate seal with the surface of the substrate to prevent ink from bleeding out under the screen, i.e., between the screen and substrate. The result is a well-defined thick film on the substrate, and avoids the necessity of stopping the printing operation in order to remove ink from the lower surface of the screen. The screen printing device enables a method by which well-defined films can be readily deposited at high throughput levels, without necessitating additional procedures, equipment and techniques that might otherwise further complicate the printing process.

Abstract: An electronic product is tested for reliability by selecting test variables, determining the range and time dependent parameters of variables in consumer usage, randomly selecting a series of values from a statistical distribution which resembles typical usage experience of each variable, randomly selecting values from a statistical distribution of the time dependent parameters for each variable to determine a schedule for each test variable so that the selected values and schedule determine a profile of each variable, and simultaneously applying the variable conditions to the product according to the profiles for a time equivalent to the expected product life.

Abstract: A radar system for detecting hazardous objects has a transceiver including a transmitting antenna for transmitting microwave power. For a side detection system, power transmission is available when the vehicle is moving forward. A signal processor receives a pulsed vehicle speed signal and a reverse signal and is programmed to terminate transmission when no speed pulse is received for a preset time or when the reverse signal is present. The transmission is terminated by removing power from the transceiver or by rerouting the microwave power from the antenna to an internal calibration circuit. Radar transmission is re-enabled when the vehicle begins to move forward again. For a rear detection system, radar transmissions are enabled when the reverse signal is present.

Abstract: A brake system control for use in a vehicle that calculates a wheel slip for at least one wheel, wherein the brake system control comprises the steps of: monitoring the calculated wheel slip; imposing a discriminating criteria on the monitored wheel slip wherein the discriminating criteria determines whether or not the calculated wheel slip accurately reflects an actual operating condition of the wheel; implementing ABS control using an adjusted wheel slip for the wheel when the discriminating condition determines that the calculated wheel slip does not accurately reflect an actual operating condition of the wheel; and implementing ABS control utilizing the calculated wheel slip when the discriminating condition determines that the calculated wheel slip accurately reflects an actual operating condition of the wheel.

Abstract: A multi-phase AC to DC harmonic neutralizing power converter. The power converter includes a plurality of non-isolated inputs for respective phases of a multi-phase source of AC power and a plurality of first rectifiers connected respectively to the inputs. A multi-phase harmonic neutralizing converter includes a power switching inverter having an input connected to the outputs of each of the first rectifiers, the inverter including LC resonant circuits. A plurality of second rectifiers having respective inputs connected to the output of the inverter through a plurality of respective transformers having outputs that are connected in voltage additive relationship to the outputs of the respective individual phase first rectifiers.

Abstract: A polyphase boost inductor battery charger having a switching current spike limiter that employs a switching transistor, such as a bipolar, MOSFET, or IGBT transistors, for example. The switching current spike limiter includes a controller whose inputs are coupled to receive AC line voltage from a power source and battery voltage from a battery. A comparator is coupled to receive the AC line voltage and the battery voltage. Outputs from the controller and the comparator are coupled to an OR gate. An output of the OR gate is coupled through a switch driver to a series pass switch which comprises the switching transistor. The switching transistor is coupled to the inductor. A flyback diode is coupled across the output of the switching current spike limiter. The switching current spike limiter controls current spikes that flow when the AC line voltage (V.sub.AC) peak is greater than the battery voltage (V.sub.batt). To determine the condition V.sub.AC peak>V.sub.

Abstract: The firing circuit of an inflatable restraint system is tested to verify operation of two FETs in series with a squib which are used to apply current to the squib. For the test the squib is biased to an intermediate voltage and each FET is turned on alone to apply battery or ground voltage to the squib. High and low voltage detectors sense the voltage excursion past respective thresholds to verify FET operation, and a logic circuit immediately turns off the FET to result in a very short FET on time. If a short is present before the FET is commanded on, a detector and the logic circuit prevents FET conduction to avoid firing or degrading the squib.

Abstract: A yaw sensor for automotive controls has a microstructure vibrating ring excited by a driving circuit. The driving circuit comprises an amplitude control loop which delivers voltage pulses at the resonant frequency of the ring. A compensation signal is derived from a comparison of a sensed vibration amplitude to a desired vibration amplitude. Failure of vibration is detected by comparing the compensation signal to a threshold which is higher than a normal compensation signal. Alternatively, vibration failure is detected by comparing the sensed vibration to a threshold lower than the desired vibration amplitude. Upon such failure, the yaw output signal is replaced by ground potential.