Abstract: An exhaust treatment device for treating an exhaust gas stream combines the functionalities of a catalytic particulate filter and a NOx absorber catalyst into a single integral device and is disposed in an exhaust conduit. By combining the functionalities of the catalytic particulate filter and a NOx absorber catalyst into a single integral device, the exhaust treatment device eliminates the temperature losses inherent to the heat capacity of one catalytic device placed in front of the other.

Abstract: A method of operating a compression ignition engine is disclosed. The method comprises, introducing an enriching component into a combustion chamber during an intake stroke, igniting the enriching component during the compression stroke, introducing a main injection of fuel to the combustion chamber after the ignition of the enriching component, igniting the main injection of fuel, and introducing a supplemental gas to the combustion chamber after igniting the main injection of fuel.

Abstract: A steering column assembly of the present invention includes a lower support bracket, an upper support bracket, and a jacket disposed within and extending along a longitudinal axis through the lower support bracket and the upper support bracket. The steering column assembly includes a yoke support housing and a plurality of tubes spaced from one another circumferentially about the longitudinal axis and interconnecting the yoke support housing and the upper support bracket. The invention includes a method of fabricating the assembly. An advantage of the present invention is to provide the steering column assembly that achieves a high section modulus, improved and predetermined stiffness characteristics, and improved packaging characteristics to hold various components such as ECL mechanisms, steering tube position sensors, BSTI switches, wires and the like.

Abstract: A method for implementing control signal linearization for an electric motor is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, the method includes receiving a desired voltage command to be applied to the motor and determining whether the magnitude of the desired voltage command falls between a first value and a second value. If the magnitude of the desired voltage command falls between the first value and the second value, then modulating a voltage command between the first and the second value over a determined sample period, thereby resulting in the application of a modulated voltage command to the motor.

Abstract: In an automotive vehicle braking system, a hydraulic brake actuator includes a wedge for locking a hydraulic piston in a brake position for purposes of applying a park brake. To apply the park brake, hydraulic pressure is increased to advance the piston to urge the brake pads against the rotor. With the piston in the brake position, an electrical solenoid is energized to advance the wedge to engage the piston. The wedge includes an inclined surface that contacts an inclined surface connected to the piston or the housing, with sufficient frictional force to maintain the wedge in the advanced position without requiring hydraulic pressure or electrical power. Thus, the park brake remains applied even when the vehicle is turned off.

Abstract: An integrated driver with improved load current sense capability includes a first transistor, a first amplifier, a second transistor, a third transistor, a second amplifier and a fourth transistor. The integrated driver allows for significantly better fault handling capability, provides accurate thermal and current sensing capability and reduces I/O pin count over prior designs.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for overmolding a plastic shroud onto a bobbin including the step of providing a protrusion ring on the surface of the bobbin surrounding each standoff between the bobbin and a mold wall and extending outwards from the surface of the bobbin. A plurality of standoffs and protrusion rings is presently preferred. The protrusion rings are small relative to the standoffs, have low thermal mass, and thus are readily melted by the injected molten plastic, causing interstitching between the bobbin material and the overmolding material. The interstitching creates a highly effective hermetic seal against moisture leakage along the surface of the bobbin away from the standoff site. Perfect melting of the standoffs is no longer required, and standoffs can be designed to assure proper positioning of the bobbin during the complete overmolding process.

Abstract: A braking system including a pre-charge with a plurality of pumps disposed in parallel with respect to one another. The pumps can direct pressurized brake fluid to the brakes during a controlled braking maneuver. The pumps operate with offset operating cycles such that a first pump is drawing fluid while a second pump is pushing fluid to the brakes. The invention provides an embodiment having three pumps operated in parallel, wherein the pumps define operating cycles offset 120 degrees from one another. The invention also provides a separate master cylinder reservoir feed circuit to improve response of the system, especially cold weather response.

Abstract: A collapsible steering assembly features a steering mechanism and a pedal assemble united and supported together by a support structure as a unitized module for shipping and attachment to a vehicle. The support structure supports the pedal assembly for movement beyond the fully depressed position of one of the pedal therein in response to a predetermined collapse force on the pedal.

Abstract: A circuit component and method by which degradation of a solder connection by electromigration can be prevented or reduced. The component generally includes an interconnect pad on a surface of the component, a metallic multilayer structure overlying the interconnect pad and having a solderable surface layer, and a solder material on the multilayer structure. According to a preferred aspect of the component and method, a stud is wire-bonded to the solderable surface layer of the multilayer structure and encased by the solder material to provide a low electrical resistance path through the solder material.

Abstract: A disc brake assembly has a hub that is rotatable about an axis and at least a pair of discs supported on the hub for relative axial movement along the axis of the hub with the discs having opposite sides presenting braking surfaces. A non-rotatable support structure supports a plurality of friction elements for relative axial movement into and out of frictional braking engagement with the braking surfaces of the discs. An electric actuator is mounted on the support structure adjacent at least one of the friction elements and is operative when actuated to move the friction elements into frictional braking engagement with the braking surfaces of the discs.

Abstract: A pyrotechnic cutting device has a guiding housing in which there is arranged a part to be severed, which is fashioned so as to be severable at a cut point by a cutting tool having a cutting chisel. A pressure pulse generator containing a pyrotechnic driving charge is arranged in the cutting device for generating a pressure pulse to drive the cutting tool. In the guiding housing there is arranged, between the pressure pulse generator and the cutting tool, an impact capsule that can be accelerated by the pressure pulse of the triggered pressure pulse generator toward an inner thrust base of the cutting tool on the end of the cutting tool opposite to the cutting chisel. The cutting tool has its cutting chisel abutting the cut point before the impact capsule strikes the thrust base.

Abstract: A telescopically collapsible vehicular steering column assembly includes inner and outer shaft tubes which are joined in a sliding fit by a bushing. The bushing includes a pair of spaced journal bearings formed of steel-backed PTFE held in a plastic carrier body. The bushing is located in a receiving chamber in the outer shaft tube. A clearance compensator reacts against the receiving chamber to exert a radial compressive force through the carrier body and the journal bearings to improve the sliding fit with the inner shaft tube and remove lash. The clearance compensator can take any form, such as a hollow annular rib, a skirt with a flexible free end, or an array of nubs carried in thinned sections of the carrier body. The clearance compensator in all of these variations operates within a clearance space and has dimensional attributes which can be changed during the design and manufacturing phases of the bushing to optimize a characteristic of the steering column assembly.

Abstract: A locking device for selectively preventing telescoping movement between first and second members and tilting movement associated with the first and second members. The locking device includes an electric motor for generating a moving force. The locking device also includes a first locking portion associated with the electric motor to move between first locked and unlocked positions in response to the moving force. The first locking portion selectively prevents telescoping movement between the first and second members. The locking device also includes a second locking portion spaced from the first locking portion. The second locking portion is also associated with the electric motor to move between second locked and unlocked positions in response to the moving force. The second locking portion selectively prevents tilting movement associated with the first and second members.

Abstract: A telescoping steering column assembly of the present invention includes a lower jacket disposed in telescoping relationship within an upper jacket along a longitudinal axes, and a brake supported by the upper jacket for frictional engagement with the lower jacket. The brake presents an inclined surface sloping longitudinally of the jackets. A cam device of the assembly is rotatable into and out of engagement with the inclined surface. The cam device includes a lever to move the brake upwardly, to engage the lower jacket with the upper jacket, and downwardly, to disengage the jackets in different modes of operation of the assembly.

Abstract: A method for controlling the release of a brush motor which has applied a load includes several steps. One step includes applying a release current to the brush motor to rotate the brush motor in a direction toward releasing the applied load of the brush motor. Another step includes sensing the commutator bar ripple current of the brush motor. Another step includes determining when to remove the release current using at least the sensed commutator bar ripple current.

Abstract: An optical sensor package with a substrate that supports a membrane carrying an optical sensor and through which radiation passes to impinge the sensor. The substrate has a first surface in which a cavity is defined, a second surface opposite the first surface, and a wall between the cavity and the second surface. The optical sensor is supported on the membrane, which is bonded to the substrate and spans the cavity in the substrate. A window is defined at the second surface of the substrate for enabling infrared radiation to pass through the wall of the substrate to the optical sensor.

Abstract: A compressor includes a housing and a drive shaft extending along a longitudinal axis and rotatably supported by the housing. A pocket is defined in the drive shaft and extends to a bottom portion having a diameter smaller than a diameter of the pocket. A pair of sealing lip portions disposed between the housing circumscribing the drive shaft. A pair of channels is defined in the drive shaft with one of the channels exposed between the spaced lip portions to deliver a lubricant therebetween under pressure.

Abstract: A laminate-type evaporator includes U-channel plates in combination with various configurations of dual cup and single cup plates, to control refrigerant pressure drop and achieve enhanced temperature spreads within the evaporator. The U-channel plates define one or more of the final refrigerant passes in the evaporator, and the dual cup and single cup plates define refrigerant passes upstream therefrom. Fins are disposed between adjacent plate pairs and extend to selected end edges of the U-channel plates to maximize the surface area available for heat exchange in the final refrigerant passes.

Abstract: A technique for manufacturing silicon structures includes etching a cavity into a first side of an epitaxial wafer. A thickness of an epitaxial layer is selected, based on a desired depth of the etched cavity and a desired membrane thickness. The first side of the epitaxial wafer is then bonded to a first side of a handle wafer. After thinning the epitaxial wafer until only the epitaxial layer remains, desired circuitry is formed on a second side of the remaining epitaxial layer, which is opposite the first side of the epitaxial wafer.