Abstract: A thermoelectric device is disposed in series with the HVAC module for heating and cooling air Ta from the HVAC module for delivery to seat passages of a seat assembly. The thermoelectric device includes a thermoelectric module, a heat exchanger having cold and hot sides, ductwork, a divider that sends variable air flow to the cold or hot sides of the thermoelectric module, and thermal insulation between the cold and hot sides downstream of the heat exchanger. The fan of the HVAC module is the sole motivation for moving the conditioned air Ta originating from the central HVAC module through the thermoelectric device and to the seat assembly.

Abstract: (57) A roll control system (20) for installation between axially aligned wheels of a motor vehicle, the roll control system comprising a torsion bar (22); a damper (24) attached to one end (28) of the torsion bar and attachable to one of the wheels; and attachment means (25) attached to the other end (29) of the torsion bar and attachable to the other wheel; wherein the damper comprises an axially extending cylindrical housing (52); a piston (34) slidably mounted inside the housing; a piston rod (58) connected to the piston, extending out of one end (55) of the housing, and movable in an axial direction relative to the housing; a floating piston (35) slidably mounted in the housing between the piston and the other end of the housing; a compensation chamber (37) between the floating piston and the other end (54) of the housing containing a first pressurised fluid; a compression chamber (30) between the floating piston and the piston containing a second pressurised fluid; a rebound chamber (32) between the pist

Abstract: A sensor assembly for measuring force along an axis (F) comprises an inductance coil extending around the axis (F) for establishing a loop of magnetic flux looping axially through the coil and extending around the axis (F) to define a donut shaped ring of magnetic flux surrounding the axis (F). A core of magnetostrictive material provides a primary path for the magnetic flux in a first portion of the loop of magnetic flux and a magnetic carrier provides a return path for magnetic flux in a second portion of the loop of magnetic flux as the magnetic flux circles the coil through the core and the carrier. A first interface extends radially between the core and the carrier whereby the core and the carrier are urged together at the interface in response to a force applied parallel to the axis (F). Various embodiments or combinations of the core and carrier are illustrated in FIGS. 3–7.

Abstract: A normally seated adult occupant of a vehicle seat is distinguished from a cinched car seat occupant based on the static seat force and first and second sets of identified dynamic characteristics that are respectively correlative of a normally seated adult and a cinched car seat. Confidence levels are assigned to the static seat force and each of the identified dynamic characteristics, and overall confidence levels for the two classifications are determined based on the assigned confidence levels. The overall confidence level for the adult occupant classification is compared with the overall confidence level for the cinched car seat classification, and the occupant is classified based on the highest overall confidence level.

Abstract: A brake system including a brake pad shaped and located to apply pressure to a brake rotor and an actuator shaped and located to apply pressure to the brake pad to cause the brake pad to apply pressure to the rotor. The system further includes a sensor material which varies in resistance when the actuator applies pressure to the brake pad, wherein the sensor material include an electrically insulating material with electrically conductive particles distributed therein. The system further includes a controller operatively coupled to the sensor material to detect a change in resistance of the sensor material.

Abstract: A heating and cooling and air conditioning (HVAC) module housing wherein the defrost outlet and the vent outlet and the seat outlet are disposed next adjacent to one another and a first plate overlies the defrost outlet and the seat outlet and a second plate overlies the seat outlet and the vent outlet for opening and closing various combinations of the outlets. Accordingly, the defrost valve and the vent valve are used to also control air flow through the seat outlet of a HVAC module to a thermo-electric device to heat and cool the seat assembly in a vehicle.

Abstract: An antenna system electronically searches for a satellite signal by beginning at the current pointing angle of an antenna. The antenna system sweeps a tuner frequency of the receiver by electronically commanding the receiver to tune to different transponder frequencies. By scanning through transponder frequencies, the antenna system can locate a satellite signal without mechanical movement. As a result, the satellite signal can be acquired more quickly than in some conventional systems.

Abstract: A filter assembly having a filter element that is self positioning into a preferential filtering position upon insertion into a tank which will contain the medium to be filtered (e.g., gasoline, oil, etc.).

Abstract: A rotary position sensor measures the relative angular position (within a range of?180°) of a housing or stator and a rotor. The housing carries a galvanomagnetic sensing element and is adapted for fixation to a relatively fixed portion of a host system. The rotor carrying a magnet is disposed for rotation about a fixed axis with respect to the stator and is interconnected to a relatively moving portion of the host system through intermediate linkage. The magnet is juxtaposed in substantially axial alignment with the galvanomagnetic sensing element for magnetic interaction therewith. The housing defines a cavity to receive potting material for encasing the galvanomagnetic sensing element and an adjacent buffer cavity interconnected by a weir, which diverts ant excess potting material into the buffer cavity.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus for absorbing energy in a collapsible steering column of a vehicle. A portion of the apparatus is deformable in response to an excessive frontal impacting force to the steering column so that injury to the vehicle operator is reduced. The apparatus includes a first steering column member and a second steering column member connected to one another such that the first steering column member slides relative to the second steering column member. The apparatus also includes a first anvil associated with a said first steering column member and a second anvil associated with said second steering column member. The apparatus also includes an energy absorbing member having a first portion extending around and operable to be drawn over said first anvil and a second portion extending around and operable to be drawn over said second anvil.

Abstract: A process for forming magnetic target tracks for position and speed sensors. The tracks are formed from a paste comprising a magnetic powder material and a hardenable carrier. The tracks can be formed within trenches in a substrate or on the substrate surface.

Abstract: A hydraulic damper including a tube filled with working liquid which contains a slidable piston assembly attached to a piston rod. The piston assembly includes a piston having a compression valve arrangement to control the flow of working liquid passing through the piston during the compression stroke of the damper. The compression valve arrangement includes a stack of resilient deflectable disks placed on one axial side of the piston and covering compression flow passages in the piston, a spring, spring seat guide and a spring retainer, the spring mounted between the spring seat and the spring retainer. The spring biases the axially slidable spring seat against the stack of disks to normally close the compression flow passages, and the stack of disks is held by the spring seat. The spring seat guide may also be provided with rebound flow passages linked with flow passages in the piston.

Abstract: An ignition apparatus includes a high voltage (HV) terminal to which a high voltage end of the secondary winding is attached. The ignition apparatus further includes an electrically conductive cup configured to surround the high voltage terminal when the secondary winding spool is inserted in the case. The high voltage terminal has one end that comes into engagement with an inner annular surface of the cup. Electromagnetic interference suppression is provided by a resistor disposed between the cup and a high voltage connector assembly that connects to a spark plug. The resistor is formed of electrically conductive plastic material.

Abstract: An audio system includes a first unit and a second unit. The first unit includes a radio frequency (RF) front-end, a channel decoder, a first wireless interface, a content decoder and a digital-to-analog converter (DAC). The second unit includes a second wireless interface, a source decoder and a content encoder.

Abstract: A silicon-based hydrogen pressure sensor module incorporates a low temperature cofired ceramic (LTCC) substrate that shields the cavity formed by the silicon membrane and cell body from hydrogen permeation. A bossed container filled with an oil material is mounted on the substrate and houses a sensor cell. The oil material may be impregnated with a hydrogen getter material.

Abstract: A vehicular steering column assembly (16) comprises a support bracket (26) which is joined to an outer, non-rotating sleeve (22). A release capsule (30) is releasably joined to a mounting surface (28) of the support bracket (26) via a plurality of spherical bodies (56) whose protruding crowns (52) are seated in corresponding longitudinally-extending furrows (54) in the release capsule (30). Upon the application of sufficient force to the steering column (16), such as during a collision, the support bracket (26) is urged out of engagement with the release capsule (30) with the respective furrows (54) sliding over the crowns (52). The sliding engagement between the crowns (52) and the furrows (54) can be adjusted to establish a highly predictable and consistent release force and which is capable of increasing the frequency value for the steering column (16).

Abstract: An overmolded electronic assembly includes a substrate, a plurality of surface mount technology (SMT) integrated circuit (IC) chips, a plurality of heat sinks, a backplate and an overmold material. The substrate includes a plurality of conductive traces formed on a first surface of the substrate. The IC chips each include an active front side and a backside and the IC chips are electrically coupled to one or more of the traces. The heat sinks are each in thermal contact with the backside of a different one of the IC chips and are independent of each other. The backplate is attached to a second surface of the substrate, which is opposite the first surface of the substrate. The overmold material covers the first surface of the substrate and maintains the heat sinks in thermal contact with an associated one of the IC chips.

Abstract: The invention provides a snap-in capsule for releasibly connecting a steering column to a vehicle. The snap-in capsule includes a metal insert for reducing creep of the steering column with respect to the vehicle. The metal insert has top and bottom surfaces and a slot extending along an axis for receiving a bolt. The snap-in capsule also includes a plastic capsule body for providing a mechanical fuse between the metal insert and the steering column. The plastic capsule body has a first snap-fit portion being deformable to receive the metal insert and fix the plastic capsule body and the metal insert with respect to one another.

Abstract: The present invention involves a method for transmitting data using an orthogonal frequency division multiplex (OFDM) transmission system, such as over a terrestrial network used in satellite digital audio radio. A OFDM signal is generated based on first input data. A variation is introduced in the OFDM signal based on second input data to generate a modified OFDM signal which is transmitted. The modified OFDM signal is decoded by performing a demodulation of the modified OFDM signal then a first and second detection to obtain the first input data and the second input data. The introduction of a variance may include introducing an additional phase offset across adjacent OFDM sub-carriers, across adjacent OFDM symbols, an additional phase offset in the OFDM signal, an additional amplitude offset in the OFDM signal, an additional amplitude augmentation in the OFDM signal, and/or a second variation in the first OFDM signal based on third input data.

Abstract: A cooled electronic assembly includes an integrated-circuit device carrier (such as a printed circuit board), a device (such as a flip chip), a liquid pump, a molding material, a heat exchanger, and a cover. The device and the liquid pump are electrically connected to the integrated-circuit device carrier. The molding material is molded to the device, to the liquid pump, and to the integrated-circuit device carrier. The cover has a coolant channel fluidly connected to the heat exchanger, wherein the cover is attached to the molding material. The coolant channel and the heat exchanger together at least partially define a closed coolant circuit. The liquid pump is operatively connected to the closed coolant circuit. A method for cooling a printed circuit board includes placing a liquid coolant in the closed coolant circuit and electrically activating the liquid pump through the printed circuit board.