Abstract: A steer-by-wire system includes a steering wheel; a steering wheel sensor coupled to the steering wheel for sensing the position of the steering wheel and producing a signal indicative of the position of the steering wheel; a controller in signal communication with the steering wheel sensor for receiving the signal indicative of the position of the steering wheel from the steering wheel sensor and producing a signal indicative of a desired steering wheel feedback torque; and a tactile feedback device in signal communication with the controller for receiving the signal indicative of the desired steering wheel feedback torque and providing a corresponding torque to the steering wheel.

Abstract: A deceleration control for automotive vehicle speed control apparatus includes first and second memories storing values of closed and open loop deceleration commands, respectively, as functions of the desired vehicle deceleration rate signal. During commanded vehicle deceleration, closed loop brake command signals, derived from values of the closed loop deceleration command in the first memory, are provided to the vehicle braking system while the determined vehicle speed exceeds a transition threshold value; and, alternatively, open loop brake command signals derived from values of the open loop deceleration command in the second memory are provided to the vehicle braking system while the determined vehicle speed does not exceed the transition threshold value. The values in the first memory means are updated on the basis of deceleration error while the determined vehicle speed exceeds the transition threshold value.

Abstract: An electronic returnless fuel system for a vehicle includes a fuel pump to pump fuel from a fuel tank. The electronic returnless fuel system also includes a fuel rail fluidly connected to the fuel pump to distribute the fuel to an engine of the vehicle and a pressure transducer to sense pressure of the fuel from the fuel pump to the fuel rail. The electronic returnless fuel system includes a controller electrically connected to the pressure transducer and the fuel pump to control the pressure of the fuel from the fuel pump to the fuel rail at a set operating pressure. The electronic returnless fuel system further includes a pressure relief valve interconnecting the fuel pump and the fuel rail set a predetermined amount above the set operating pressure and at least one jet pump disposed in the fuel tank and fluidly connected to the pressure relief valve.

Abstract: Friction materials for clutch, brake shoes and the like are formed of a paper having reduced or eliminated non-functional processing additives. The paper composition includes components selected from a group consisting of aramid pulp, aramid staple, carbon/polyacrylonitrile fibers, glass wool, potassium octatitanate, bronze wool, high surface area filter cake, graphite, amorphous carbon and cyanated phenolic resin. The paper composition may be pre-compounded to a particle size in the range of 60 to 200 mesh. Part molding may be carried out by microwave heating the paper at 250° to 55° F.

Abstract: A generator wake-up system that transitions the voltage regulator from a low power, sleep mode to full voltage regulation mode when the wake-up system detects and confirms a valid frequency of rotation of the generator. The wake-up system includes a control circuit to filter, amplify, and detect the proper threshold of an input waveform; and an assessing device that implements a control algorithm to measure and validate the input waveform.

Abstract: A secondary terminal lock for an electrical connector assembly includes an inner connector and an outer connector. The inner connector defines at least one elongated terminal space adapted to receive a wire terminal. The outer connector defines a slot adapted to receive the inner connector in telescoping engagement. The secondary terminal lock is disposed adjacent to the terminal space and has a flexible shaft and a distal head having a cam lobe and a forward facing abutment. When the assembly is assembled with a terminal disposed in the terminal space and with the inner connector fitting within the outer connector, the cam lobe abuts the outer connector and causes the head to deflect and move the abutment behind the terminal to prevent the terminal from being removed from the inner connector in a rearward direction.

Abstract: A vehicle rollover sensor is provided for detecting an anticipated overturn condition of a vehicle. The rollover sensor includes a first angular rate sensor sensing attitude rate of change of a vehicle about a first axis and producing a first attitude rate of change signal. Also included is a second angular rate sensor sensing attitude rate of change of the vehicle about a second axis and producing a second attitude rate of change signal. The first and second angular rate sensors are located on a vehicle and arranged so that the first axis is different from the second axis. The rollover sensor further includes a rollover discrimination controller for determining a vehicle overturn condition based on the first and second sensed attitude rate of change signals. In addition, roll arming logic generates a roll arming signal based on the first and second sensed attitude rate of change signals.

Abstract: A fuel pump for a vehicle includes a pump section having a flow channel and a rotatable impeller cooperating with said flow channel to pump fuel therethrough. The fuel pump also includes a motor section disposed adjacent the pump section and having a motor to rotate the impeller. The fuel pump further includes an outlet section disposed adjacent the motor section to allow pumped fuel to exit the fuel pump. The impeller includes a plurality of blades that are generally V shaped and have thinned edges.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a stuffing cone apparatus, method for making a gas treatment device, and the device made therefrom. In one embodiment, the stuffing cone apparatus comprises: a funnel having a first end and a second end, with the second end having a smaller diameter than the first end, a pusher detail comprising a pusher disc perpendicularly disposed on an end of a pusher arm, wherein the pusher detail is slideable within the funnel, and a retainer detail comprising a retainer disc perpendicularly disposed to an end of a retainer arm, wherein the retainer detail is slideable within the funnel. The retainer disc and the pusher disc are capable of physically contacting opposite sides of a substrate within the funnel.

Abstract: A tripot joint includes a tripot housing having a plurality of longitudinally extending ball channels for receiving a corresponding plurality of trunnions projecting from a shaft. Each trunnion is fitted with a ball module formed as a separate sub-assembly from the trunnions. Each ball module includes a roller ball having a bore in which a plurality of needle bearings is disposed. A bearing cage is received with a snap-fit connection within the bore to retain the needle bearing within the roller ball independently of the trunnions.

Abstract: An absolute hand-wheel position tracking system for an electric power steering system having a hand-wheel, an assist motor for providing an assist torque disposed relative to the hand-wheel, and a motor position sensor responsive to the assist motor, includes a hand-wheel position initialization function responsive to the hand-wheel; a motor position correction and scaling function responsive to the motor position sensor and responsive to the assist torque; an enable function responsive to the assist torque and responsive to the hand-wheel position initialization function; and an absolute hand-wheel position generation function in signal communication with the hand-wheel position initialization function, the motor position correction and scaling function, and the enable function.

Abstract: A modular blow-off base valve is provided for a vehicle twin tube damper in which a valve body is inserted into the end of an inner damper tube. The valve body has a central opening into which is inserted a valve cage assembly. The valve cage assembly includes a valve cage tubular member having a blow-off valve opening which is pressed into the central opening. A valve stem forming a valve seat with the blow-off valve opening is biased into a closed position by a helical spring seated against the underside of the valve stem at one end and a spring retainer fastened to the bottom of the valve cage at its other end. An annular bleed disc, intake disc and washer disc fit over the tubular member and cover rebound openings in the valve body. When the valve cage assembly is placed into the valve body's central opening, the washer disc biases the intake disc into sealing engagement with the rebound openings in the valve body.

Abstract: A flex connector assembly is provided having a plug assembly and a receptacle assembly for electrically connecting with the plug assembly. The plug assembly includes a plug housing, a first plug interface surface and a plug flex connector having a first portion with a plurality of conductive protrusions thereon, wherein the plug flex connector is fixed in the plug housing such that the conductive protrusions are positioned on the first plug interface surface. The receptacle assembly includes a receptacle housing, a first receptacle interface surface and a receptacle flex connector having a plurality of conductive protrusions thereon, wherein the receptacle flex connector is fixed in the receptacle housing such that the conductive protrusions are positioned on the first receptacle interface surface. The conductive protrusions of the plug assembly are aligned to contact conductive protrusions on the receptacle assembly when the plug assembly and receptacle assembly are connected.

Abstract: A no-flow underfill material and process for underfilling a flip chip component. The underfill material comprises at least three polymer layers. A first of the layers overlies terminals of a substrate to which the component is to be mounted. The first and second layers are substantially free of fillers, while the third layer contains a filler material to reduce its CTE. The underfill process entails placing the component so that solder terminals thereof penetrate the first, second and third layers and contact the terminals on the substrate. Because only the third layer contains filler material, penetration of the underfill material by the solder terminals is substantially unimpeded. The solder terminals are then reflowed, during which the filler material migrates into the unfilled first layer and the first, second and third layers consolidate and cure to form a single underfill layer.

Abstract: An intelligent input push rod assembly for applying an input force from a brake pedal to a power booster of a brake system. The input push rod assembly includes a sensor that is capable of generating an electrical output having a magnitude that varies with the amount of force applied to the input push rod by the brake pedal. Preferably, the sensor generates an output voltage signal that is generally proportional to the input force applied to the input push rod. A shunt is provided so that springs associated with the sensor operate in a generally linear force-deflection operating range of the springs. The output signal generated by the sensor is applied to a brake light control system that is supported by the input push rod assembly. The brake light control system uses the signal generated by the sensor to determine whether the vehicle brake lights should be illuminated and also to cause direct illumination of the brake lights during a braking operation.

Abstract: A method for controlling the shape and height of solder connections of a surface mount circuit device, such as a flip chip, by way of controlling the manner and extent to which solder is able to flow on a conductor during reflow in order to maximize the distance between adjacent connections. The device is mounted to a circuit board with a conductor pattern defined by a number of conductors, each having a reduced-width portion. A mask is formed on the circuit board to have an opening that exposes a portion of each reduced-width portion, each exposed portion having opposing first and second ends. The device has solder bumps that are staggered so that every other solder bump is registered with a first end of one of the exposed portions, and so that the remaining intervening solder bumps are registered with the opposing second ends of the remaining exposed portions.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for conditioning polysilicon circuit elements includes a supply source configured to impress a desired voltage or current upon a polysilicon circuit element including at least a polysilicon resistor for a desired signal duration. The desired voltage or current and signal duration are chosen to cause an irreversible decrease in the resistance of the polysilicon circuit element without generating enough heat to re-alloy the resistor contacts or fuse open the resistor. The process of the present invention may be selectively performed on desired ones of a number of polysilicon resistors forming an array or matrix to thereby program the array or matrix with a desired binary code. Alternatively, the process may be used to pre-condition all the resistors in an array or matrix to thereby facilitate subsequent programming thereof via conventional fusing techniques.

Abstract: An electrical connection for a surface-mount circuit device, and a method for forming the electrical connection. The electrical connection includes a solder stop that promotes the accurate location of a solder joint that electrically connects the surface-mount device to the conductor. In accordance with the invention, the solder stop also promotes stress relief of the electrical connection during thermal cycling, such that thermal cycle fatigue cracking occurs in the solder stop instead of the conductor and solder joint. As a result, thermal stresses are absorbed and dissipated by the solder stop, and do not adversely affect the continuity and mechanical integrity of the electrical connection. The solder stop preferably has a composition that contains an inorganic particulate filler in a glass matrix, the latter being present in an amount that forms a weak bond between the inorganic particles and between the solder stop and conductor.

Abstract: A method of estimating the angular velocity of an electric power steering motor for an automobile is disclosed. The method comprises estimating an average angular velocity of the motor; estimating an instantaneous angular velocity of the motor; weighting the estimated average angular velocity of the motor; weighting the estimated instantaneous angular velocity of the motor; and combining the weighted estimated average angular velocity of the motor and the weighted estimated instantaneous angular velocity of the motor.

Abstract: An improved gate drive circuit powered by a DC source voltage, the drive circuit having an isolated output stage with a parallel-connected by-pass capacitor and a switched input capacitor circuit that maintains a charge on the by-pass capacitor for driving the gate of a controlled MOS transistor while isolating the by-pass capacitor from the source voltage. In a fully isolated embodiment of the improved gate drive circuit, a bank of controlled switches alternately couples the input capacitor to the source voltage and the by-pass capacitor, while in another embodiment, uni-directional isolation is achieved by replacing one or more of the controlled switches with diodes.