Abstract: An apparatus (10) is set forth for measuring a return signal of a magnetostrictive sensor (20) that detects a force, torque, or pressure. The return signal includes noise, a DC resistance (44), an AC resistance and an inductance and the inductance is shifted ninety degrees from the AC resistance. The apparatus (10) includes a sensor filter (22) to remove the noise from the return signal. A sensor filter (22) shifts the return signal and more specifically, the inductance by an additional angle and the sum of the additional angle and the ninety degrees phase shift is defined as the final detection angle. To detect the inductance at the final detection angle, a wave filter (16) and a reference filter (28) shifts a reference signal by the final detection angle to trigger a first demodulator (26) to detect the inductance at the final detection angle. The inductance detected by the first demodulator (26) varies due to temperature.

Abstract: An object tracking method tracks a target object between successively generated infrared video images using a grey-scale hat filter to extract the target object from the background. The filtered image is binarized, and candidate binary blobs are extracted. The binary blob that minimizes the Euclidian spatial distance to the previous position of the object and satisfies a specified appearance model is selected, and its center of mass is taken as the current position of the object. Where the object is a person's eye, the eye state and decision confidence are determined by analyzing the shape and appearance of the binary blob along with changes in its size and the previous eye state, and applying corresponding parameters to an eye state decision matrix.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for actively illuminating and capturing images of an object, such as a driver of a vehicle to reduce glare. The system includes a video imaging camera orientated to generate images of the subject object (e.g., eye(s)) in successive video frames. The system also includes first and second light sources operable to illuminate the object one at a time. The system further includes a processor for processing the image by performing pixel-wise min operation to combine multiple frames into a single frame to reduce glare in the image. The system may remove glare caused by the illuminators and caused by external energy sources.

Abstract: A method of producing an actuator includes shaping a block of ferroelectric material to provide an active element of the actuator. The element includes a stack of ferroelectric layers with adjacent layers separated by electrodes arranged parallel to end faces of the element. The method includes applying a primary electrode to the end faces, immersing the element and the primary electrode within a dielectric fluid, applying a primary poling voltage to the primary electrode so as to polarize the element in a first polarization direction, applying a secondary external electrode to side faces of the element, and applying a secondary poling voltage to the secondary electrode to polarize alternate layers along the first polarization direction and the other layers along a second, oppositely-directed polarization axis. The method may also include applying a conductive film to the end faces and/or applying heat to help evaporate the dielectric fluid.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for flud flow measurement are provided. The apparatus includes a first thermistor; a second thermistor; a first deflecting member configured to shield the first thermistor from fluid flowing in a first direction; a second deflecting member configured to shield the second thermistor from fluid flowing in a second direction where the second direction is substantially opposite the first direction; and a circuit in electrical communicati with the first thermistor and the second thermistor. The circuit includes a comparator for comparing a first signal from the first thermistor to a second signal from the second thermistor. The comparator provides an output indicative of a direction of fluid flowing past the first thermistor and the second thermistor.

Abstract: An advance arrangement for use in controlling timing of fuel delivery by a fuel pump for use in an engine comprises an advance piston (12) which is slidable within a first bore (14) and which cooperates, in use, with a cam arrangement of a fuel pump to adjust the timing of fuel delivery by the pump. A surface associated with the advance piston (12) is exposed to fuel pressure within a first control chamber (38). The pressure of fuel within the first control chamber (38) is controlled by means of a servo piston (24) which is slidable within a further bore (22) provided in the advance piston (12). The servo piston (24) is responsive to speed dependent fuel pressure variations within a servo control chamber (37), thereby to permit adjustment of the timing in response to engine speed.

Abstract: An illuminated display system is disclosed. The illuminated display system includes a circuit board with a front surface and a rear surface, and a plurality of light-passing holes. At least one light pipe is arranged on the rear surface of the circuit board. The at least one light pipe includes at least one entrance port and a plurality of corresponding facets and exit ports. Each of the plurality of facets, exit ports, and light passing holes are aligned in a corresponding relationship to the location of individual components of a display surface positioned over the front surface of the circuit board.

Abstract: An electrical connector has a connect or shroud. A pin block disposed in the connector body supports a plurality of terminal pins that have head portions projecting out a forward end of the pin block and tail portions projecting out a rearward end of the pin block. The connector shroud has a socket at a forward end that receives a terminal stabilizer that is locked to the pin block to hold the terminal stabilizer and the pin block in assembly with the connector shroud to form a module. The module may include a block seal that can be sandwiched between the terminal stabilizer and the pin block during assembly of the module. The rear end of the connector shroud is truncated at an angle for a direct top down assembly of the module to a housing that has an attachment collar that is truncated at the same angle. The pin terminal tail portions are bent at a right angle and project through holes in a pin alignment member and a printed circuit board that are mounted inside the housing.

Abstract: An antenna having a plurality of elongated conductors is disclosed. The elongated conductors have a substantially straight portion and a substantially helical portion.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for improved monitoring and controlling of mechanically commutated DC motors. The system and method include DC motors, pulse-count driver circuitry for driving the motors, motor position sensing circuitry, and motor control circuitry. The system and method provide for improved motor current waveform sensing that is able to effectively reject false brake pulses, avoid erroneous processing due to fluctuating battery voltage levels, and reduce the sensitivity to variations in motor current signals due to dynamic motor load, manufacturing variation, system aging, temperature, brush bounce, EMI, and other factors. The system and method also include an improved ability to multiplex additional external motor drivers to the motor control circuitry, select between sequential and simultaneous drive modes using an SPI bit, and monitor the system controller for an error condition and drive the connected motors in response to the error condition.

Abstract: A transparent overlay input device includes a transparent non-conductive substrate, a plurality of transparent conductive electrode pairs and a transparent non-conductive cover. The plurality of transparent conductive electrode pairs are formed on the substrate and each form a proximity sensitive region and include a first electrode that receives an input signal and a second electrode that provides an output signal. The first and second electrodes are capacitively coupled and the capacitance of the electrode pair changes when a conductive member, e.g., a user's finger, is located near the electrode pair. The transparent non-conductive cover is formed on the substrate over the electrode pairs.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a gas generator, in particular for airbag modules in motor vehicles, comprising a plurality of separate generator stages which can be ignited independently of one another and each of which includes in its own pressure housing at least one igniter, at least one propellant charge and at least one combustion chamber. The generator stages are arranged at least partly in a common filter housing together with a common filter unit and the space remaining in the filter housing is designed at least regionally as an outflow passage system leading from outflow apertures formed in the pressure housings to the filter unit.

Abstract: A one-piece electromagnetic circuit board shield has a series of depending legs that extend through corresponding slot openings in a circuit board for mechanically retaining the shield in place on the circuit board, and intervening teeth that bite into a peripheral ground plane conductor trace on the circuit board to provide reliable electrical coupling between the shield and the ground plane conductor trace. Some of the depending legs have buckle features that pass through the circuit board slots with resistance to provide a snap-fit attachment of the shield to the circuit board, and other depending legs of the shield are contoured to facilitate a twist-lock functionality that provides a vibration-resistant mechanical lock between the shield and the circuit board.

Abstract: An holder or support for a backlit component is disclosed which provides display lighting for the backlit component. The holder may be a one-piece holder and may be made from a polymeric material including one or more fluorescing materials and/or diffusing substances. A trim plate for a backlit display is disclosed. The trim plate may have a front face which provides both a solid support for graphic indicia and display lighting for the graphic indicia.

Abstract: Improved encapsulated, overmolded and/or underfilled electrical components having a complete encapsulation, overmolding and/or underfilling with a coefficient of thermal expansion that is uniform and substantially free of gradients includes a polymeric matrix and an inorganic filler having a platelet geometric structure. The platelet structure of the filler allows a desirable coefficient of thermal expansion to be achieved using a very low level of filler material. This low level of filler material facilitates lower viscosity during forming of the encapsulation and/or overmolding, thereby facilitating complete filling of a mold cavity and underfilling of space between a circuit board and a semi-conductor chip electrically connected to the circuit board. In addition, the low viscosity has processing advantages that reduce the potential for damage to electrical components during encapsulation, overmolding and/or underfilling.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for repairing defects in kinetically sprayed surfaces. The typical defects comprise isolated or connected conical shaped holes in the kinetic spray coating. The repair involves thermally spraying a molten material into the defective area to fill in the cone followed by continued kinetic spraying to complete the coating.

Abstract: A mechanical clock arrangement includes a linkage apparatus rotatingly driving an hour hand and/or a minute hand of a mechanical clock. A sensing device senses a time of day displayed by the mechanical clock. A control device is in communication with both the sensing device and a source of an actual time of day. The control device actuates the linkage apparatus to thereby cause the time of day displayed by the mechanical clock to correspond to the actual time of day.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are directed to a photonic sensor and method of operation, in one embodiment a photonic has: a sensing element; a dielectric layer; a first electrode disposed between the sensing element and the dielectric layer; a second electrode positioned in a facing spaced relationship with respect to the dielectric layer, the second electrode being disposed upon a substrate; and wherein an applied voltage between the first and second electrodes attracts the first electrode towards the second electrode resulting in a movement of the sensor and the first electrode and dielectric layer with respect to the second electrode, wherein a path of thermal conductance is provided between the substrate and the sensing element through the first electrode, the dielectric layer and the second electrode, and the dielectric layer and the first electrode return to the facing spaced relationship when the applied voltage is removed.

Abstract: A system and method for evaluating the integrity of a leak detection test for a purge valve of a fuel system in a vehicle reduces or eliminates false failures. The method is executed on an engine control module (ECM) and is configured to determine when vehicle soak conditions meet first criteria conducive to fuel vapor condensation in the fuel tank. The first criteria include a predetermined temperature drop in ambient air temperature between successive drive cycles. The ECM is further configured to determine when a vehicle maneuver meets second criteria indicative of the capability of the maneuver to initiate fuel slosh in the fuel tank, to thereby establish a trigger event. The ECM is further configured to determine, after the trigger event, the maximum slope of a fuel tank vacuum increase. The ECM is still further configured to produce a slope ratio as a function of the maximum vacuum increase slope and a reference vacuum slope corresponding to a slope that is unaffected by any slosh/condensation events.

Abstract: An electronic package having enhanced heat dissipation is provided exhibiting dual conductive heat paths in opposing directions. The package includes a substrate having electrical conductors thereon and a flip chip mounted to the substrate. The flip chip has a first surface, solder bumps on the first surface, and a second surface oppositely disposed from the first surface. The flip chip is mounted to the substrate such that the solder bumps are registered with the conductors on the substrate. The package further includes a stamped metal heat sink in heat transfer relationship with the second surface of the flip chip. The heat sink includes a cavity formed adjacent to the flip chip containing a thermally conductive material.