Abstract: A connector is provided for securing one or more optical fibers to a mounting member, such as an instrument panel module wall or a light pipe within an instrument panel. The connector generally includes a body characterized by a longitudinal axis, a first end, an oppositely disposed second end, and an internal passage formed within the body along the longitudinal axis. The internal passage is tapered so as to have a smaller cross-section at the second end than at the first end, with the internal passage at the first end being sized to receive the one or more optical fibers. Expandable members are formed at the second end of the body, which enable the internal passage at the second end to radially expand and accommodate the optical fibers. In doing so, the expandable members serve to grip the optical fibers when disposed within the internal passage. At least one pair of resilient members extend from the midportion of the body, and both extend towards either the first or second end of the body.

Abstract: Glare and spurious reflections of external light on the image source of a head up display are eliminated by a circular polarizer in the optical path of the display. The head up display includes a mirror system for projecting a pattern from the image source onto a vehicle windshield where it is reflected to the operator, wherein polarization is effected at the windshield reflection. The circular polarizer includes a linear polarizer and a quarter wave plate arranged to extinguish the external incident light after reflection from the image source. The linear polarizer axis is aligned with the polarization axis at the windshield to optimize the brightness of the display.

Abstract: Detection means having thin wire electrodes that are placed on the outer surface of a radome that shelters an antenna used for transmitting and/or receiving intelligence in the form of radio waves, such as those microwave signals used in radar, especially radar that is used for a vehicle. The thin wire electrodes are placed on the radome surface in a way which will not change antenna characteristics. The electrodes measure the electrical resistance of the obstruction material, such as wet mud, that may find its way onto the outer surface of the radome during the operation of the vehicle and that may reduce the sensitivity of the radar's receiver so as to prevent it from recognizing otherwise discernable echo information. The detection means, upon detecting a predetermined electrical resistance of the obstruction material, provides a signal that is routed to the operator that is indicative that the radar performance may have degraded beyond an acceptable limit.

Abstract: An apparatus has a liquid level sender providing a sender output signal which varies with a measure of a liquid and which varies with a slosh of the liquid. A main control circuit couples and decouples the sender output signal to a process circuit, the process circuit provides an output signal to a liquid level indicator. Two monitor circuits monitor the output of the process circuit and provide a control signal to the main control circuit if the sender output signal varies from the output of the process circuit by more than a predetermined amount. A switch within the main control circuit decouples the sender output signal from the process circuit in response to the control signal. Sample circuitry within the process circuit drives the output of the process circuit in accordance with a sampled signal when the sender out signal is decoupled from the process circuit.

Abstract: A system and a method are provided wherein an air bag deployment command is issued if a crash event exceeds both an energy boundary curve and an oscillation boundary curve, and, furthermore, following detection of an onset of the crash event, filtered acceleration data exceeds an acceleration threshold. The threshold is preferably two-tiered to help discriminate between deployment and non-deployment events.

Abstract: A method is provided for applying solder to a flip chip pattern on a circuit board. The method involves forming solder bumps on a chip, and then transferring the solder bumps to the flip chip pattern by soldering the chip to the flip chip pattern, and then gradually heating the solder bumps while applying a force to separate the chip from the circuit board, such that the solder bumps substantially remain adhered to the flip chip pattern. The solder is transferred to the flip chip pattern in order to allow a flexible circuit interconnect to be soldered to the flip chip pattern for the purpose of establishing electronic communications between the circuit board's electronic circuit components and a microprocessor emulator. The electronic circuit can then be evaluated and tested without a microprocessor chip being present on the substrate.

Abstract: In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, an adaptive threshold circuit is provided which develops a series of square-wave voltage pulses from an alternating differential voltage that is produced in response to the rotation of a wheel. The adaptive threshold circuit includes an input circuit for providing an input voltage in response to the alternating differential voltage. A first voltage comparator compares the input voltage with an adaptive analog threshold voltage and produces an output in response thereto which causes a rising edge of the square-wave voltage pulse. A second voltage comparator compares a selected portion of the input voltage with the adaptive analog threshold voltage and produces an output in response thereto. The adaptive threshold circuit further includes a binary counter having a reset input for receiving the first voltage comparator output and an enable input for receiving the second voltage comparator output and provides a plurality of binary outputs.

Abstract: A backlit component is provided which is suitable for use in an illuminated graphic display in an instrument panel of an automobile. The backlit component can be formed as a molded plastic button for use in a display group forming a keypad, in which minimal variability of backlighting intensity can be readily achieved within the backlit component as well as within the display group. The backlit component is preferably molded from a translucent substrate in which at least one phosphor additive is dispersed. The phosphor additive is preferably uniformly dispersed such that the backlit component is characterized by a substantially uniform backlighting intensity upon the phosphor additive being excited by an appropriate light source in proximity to the backlit component. The light source can be received within a recess formed in the backlit component, or spaced apart from the component, in which case light emitted by the light source may be transmitted by a recess or light pipe integrally formed in the component.

Abstract: An enclosure for electronic instrument panel circuitry including a circuit board, a front housing with rear lower and upper locking flanges, and a two part case, preferably articulated at the rear for clamshell operation. The case has flanges on each part for interlocking with the housing, without separate fasteners. The circuit board is located in the case and connected to the housing before the case is closed. Support members molded in the case hold the circuit board in place and a single screw further secures the circuit board. A second circuit board on the rear of the housing is trapped by its margin between the housing and case, and held without screws.

Abstract: A biasing circuit (30) for an output vertical pnp transistor (10) formed in an integrated circuit and having an outer epitaxial region (20) includes a biasing vertical pnp transistor (33) and a comparator (38). Biasing circuit (30) is electrically connected to the integrated circuit voltage supply and the outer epitaxial region (20) of the output vertical pnp transistor (10) for electrically connecting the outer epitaxial region (20) to the voltage supply when the voltage at an output terminal (23) does not exceed the supply voltage and electrically disconnecting the outer epitaxial region (20) from the voltage supply when the voltage at the output terminal (23) exceeds the supply voltage, whereby improper operation of and damage to the integrated circuit upon the occurrence of an external fault condition is at least minimized.

Abstract: An air bag restraint system is equipped with seat occupant sensing apparatus for a passenger seat which detects both infant seats and adults and distinguishes between rear and forward facing infant seats. Air bag deployment is inhibited when an occupied rear facing infant seat is present. The sensing apparatus comprises eight variable resistance pressure sensor in the seat cushion. The response of each sensor to occupant pressure is monitored by a microprocessor which calculated total weight and weight distribution. The weight is used to discriminate between an occupied infant seat, an adult and no occupant. The weight distribution is used to distinguish between forward and rear facing infant seats. Another embodiment uses the occupant sensing along with seat belt fastening detection to indicate when a seat is occupied and the belt is not fastened.

Abstract: A glass envelope contains a silicon substrate which embodies an active matrix anode array, a microprocessor, and anode driving circuits. A small number of pins on the envelope couple display parameters and control signals to the microprocessor, and logic and anode signal voltages are supplied to the substrate. The microprocessor determines which pixels in the anode array should be energized and the driving circuit addresses the array and applies energizing voltage to the selected pixels. The driving circuit is supplied by the low signal voltage and includes a voltage level shifting function to increase the level by an order of magnitude to realize a voltage high enough for adequate display brightness. The display can be made small due to the small number of pins required.

Abstract: An efficient power supply for a vacuum fluorescent display having a battery or other unregulated source supplies the grid voltage directly from the battery and supplies the anode voltage via a step-up regulator. To eliminate apparent display brightness changes upon variation of battery voltage, the battery voltage and the anode voltage are fed back to the regulator, adjusting the regulated anode voltage inversely to the battery voltage. The direct coupling of battery to the grid eliminates the necessity of regulating or converting the grid voltage, allowing a smaller power supply to be used and minimizing heat losses.

Abstract: A sensor interface circuit and method are provided which realizes common mode rejection, compensates for external input impedance and internal loads and achieves a desired transfer response. The interface circuit is particularly useful for amplifying and conditioning signals generated by an oxygen sensor on an automotive vehicle. The sensor interface circuit has first and second inputs for receiving input voltages from a sensor which are joined together to provide a differential voltage representative of the voltage potential between the first and second inputs. RF filtering circuitry is coupled to both inputs. An amplifier having a gain and a first input receives a differential voltage and has an output coupled to a grounded switch for providing an output signal referenced to reference ground. A supply voltage is applied across the inputs and a current is supplied to one of the inputs.

Abstract: The invention includes the discovery that the addition of a thermosetting polymer to a thick-film conductor formulation including a thermoplastic polymer will substantially retard the spreading of the thick-film conductor ink upon firing of the printed conductor. The thermosetting polymer may be from the family of allylic esters, for example poly(diallyl phthalate). The invention also includes the discovery that the thermosetting resin can be dissolved with an organic solvent to form an additive so as to uniformly distribute the thermosetting polymer within the thick-film conductor formulation including the thermoplastic polymers. Preferred organic solvents include alcohols with a weight ratio of thermoset-to-organic solvent ranging from about 1:1.5 to about 1:3.

Abstract: A vehicle trip odometer has a central shaft with both ends protruding for coupling of either end or both ends with other odometers. A total distance odometer likewise has both ends available for coupling to a trip odometer. Thus several arrangements of counter mechanisms are possible with a single design of trip and total odometers. Two trip odometers are serially driven by one end of the total odometer, or are each driven at opposite ends of the total odometer. A molded coupler connects shaft ends for joining adjacent odometers. Each shaft end has a flat for positive rotational drive of a coupler with a mating recess.

Abstract: An air core gauge for an instrument cluster includes a permanent magnet armature and field coils energized according to an input parameter determine the position of the armature and a pointer connected to the armature. Terminal pins outboard of the armature carry energizing current to the coils. One of the terminal pins is made of ferrous material to magnetically attract the armature to a rest position when energizing current is off.

Abstract: Vehicle tires each contain a sender including a microprocessor, a radio transmitter, a pressure detector and a magnetic switch for sending a radio signals indicating sender ID, pressure data and change of switch state. An on-board receiver unit having a microprocessor evaluates the transmitted data and displays pressure condition information. A portable magnet is placed near each tire, in turn, to operate the magnetic switches, resulting in a sequential transmission of sender ID codes which allows the receiver unit to learn the tire position of each sender. An inertia switch in the tire triggers a radio transmission and the receiver unit considers the absence of a transmission when expected as a failure and displays a service needed message. A remote portable sender transmits signals for door unlocking or locking, trunk opening and interior light control. The receiver unit responds to the signals and issues commands to appropriate actuators.

Abstract: Radiated emission is reduced in a vacuum fluorescent tube having a pulsed filament current in a variable frequency range above audible frequencies. A driver circuit produces a fixed width pulse of filament current when triggered by a random frequency generator. The frequency generator comprises a shift register and XOR gates intercoupled to generate a random series of logic outputs, a filter to produce a randomly varying voltage from the logic outputs, and a voltage-to-frequency converter responsive to the filter voltage to yield a random frequency in the required range. The random frequency triggers the driver and clocks the shift register.

Abstract: A method is provided for processing an electronic circuit assembly having surface mount integrated circuit packages mounted to its substrate, in which ingress of a conformal coating into a void present between the IC package and the substrate is prevented by a masking composition which forms a barrier around the IC package prior to the conformal coating process. The masking compositions are hot melt materials, in that each is initially a solid at roughly room temperature, melts to become a liquid at an elevated temperature at which the masking composition is applied to the electronic assembly, and forms a solid upon cooling to a temperature corresponding to a service temperature of the electronic assembly. As such, the masking compositions can be rapidly applied through various highly controllable techniques, and will quickly and sufficiently solidify upon cooling to allow handling of the electronic assembly.