Abstract: A system and method of controlling communication between a satellite transceiver and a ground transceiver, where the satellite transceiver is configured to receive concurrently a plurality of messages at substantially the same carrier frequency from a plurality of ground transceivers. The satellite transceiver transmits a time reference signal. The ground transceiver receives the time reference signal, and determines a transmit time that the ground transceiver is authorized to transmit a message based on an identification number of the ground transceiver.

Abstract: An electrical distribution center assembly having a connector including a plurality of terminals and a terminal stabilizer plate engaging the tips of the terminals to hold the terminals in position and resist bending prior to inserting a mating connector into the electrical distribution center assembly. The terminal stabilizer plate is held in a ready position by a releasable latch means until an axial force applied to the releasable latch means by the mating connector body exceeds a force threshold, whereby the terminal stabilizer plate is released from the ready position and is moved to a seated position. The releasable latch means may include a flexible beam or other resilient member to hold the terminal stabilizer plate in the ready position until it is released.

Abstract: A method for diagnosing the performance of a refueling event detection system for a vehicle is provided. The method includes the steps of a) determining a fuel change amount based on a difference of an indicated fuel amount and a previously indicated fuel amount, b) determining a consumed amount of fuel consumed by the engine since a prior refueling event was detected, and c) diagnosing the performance of the refueling event detection system based on the consumed amount and the fuel change amount.

Abstract: A system and method of controlling communication between a satellite transceiver and a ground transceiver, where the satellite transceiver is configured to receive concurrently a plurality of messages at substantially the same carrier frequency from a plurality of ground transceivers. The satellite transceiver transmits a priority threshold indicative of a transmit power that a ground transceiver is authorized to use to transmit a message. The ground transceiver receives the priority threshold transmitted by the ground transceiver, and determines a transmit power of the transmitter to transmit a message based on a comparison of the priority threshold and a priority rating of the message.

Abstract: A system and method of controlling communication between a satellite transceiver and a ground transceiver, where the satellite transceiver is configured to receive concurrently a plurality of messages at substantially the same carrier frequency from a plurality of ground transceivers. The satellite transceiver transmits a ranking threshold indicative of a transceiver ranking of a ground transceiver that authorizes the ground transceiver to transmit a message to the satellite transceiver. The ground transceiver receives the ranking threshold transmitted by the ground transceiver, and determines if the ground transceiver is authorized to transmit a message based on a comparison of the ranking threshold and a transceiver ranking of the ground transceiver.

Abstract: A termination arrangement for a cable bundle includes a body with a cable cavity extending therethrough with the plurality of cables extending into the cable cavity. The body includes a cable attachment end through which the cable bundle enters the cable cavity. The cable attachment end includes an annular-shaped sealing recess radially surrounding a portion of the cable cavity. The sealing recess has an inner wall, an outer wall radially surrounding the inner wall, and a bottom wall joining the inner wall and the outer wall. An electromagnetic shield radially surrounds the cable bundle outside of the cavity and extends into the sealing recess. An insulation tubing radially surrounds the electromagnetic shield and the cable bundle outside of the cable cavity and extends into the sealing recess. A collar secured to the cable attachment end retains the electromagnetic shield and the insulation tubing within the sealing recess.

Abstract: A system and method of controlling communication between a satellite transceiver and a ground transceiver, where the satellite transceiver is configured to receive concurrently a plurality of messages at substantially the same carrier frequency from a plurality of ground transceivers. The satellite transceiver transmits a priority threshold indicative of a priority rating of a message that authorizes the ground transceiver to transmit the message to the satellite transceiver. The ground transceiver receives the priority threshold transmitted by the ground transceiver, and determines if the message is authorized to be transmitted based on a comparison of the priority threshold and the priority rating of the message to be transmitted.

Abstract: A method for diagnosing a component failure in a saddle-type fuel tank assembly is provided. The method includes a) updating a maximum amount to a subsequent amount of fuel if the subsequent amount of fuel is greater than the maximum amount, b) updating a minimum amount to the subsequent amount of fuel if the subsequent amount of fuel is less than the minimum amount, c) determining a fuel consumption amount, and d) determining that one or more of a first fuel level sender and a second fuel level sender have failed if the difference between the maximum amount and minimum amount is less than a first threshold, and the fuel consumption amount is greater than a second threshold.

Abstract: An ultrasound interior space monitoring system for a motor vehicle includes at least one ultrasound transmitter and at least one ultrasound receiver that can be attached in the interior space of the motor vehicle and are configured for the contactless monitoring of the interior space. The system is operable in an operating mode which is active when a monitoring mode in which the monitoring of the interior takes place is inactive, wherein a position, a movement speed and/or a movement direction of an object, in particular of a hand of a vehicle occupant, can be determined and at least one fitting element of the vehicle can be actuated in dependence on the position, on the movement speed and/or on the movement direction by means of the at least one ultrasound transmitter and by means of the at least one ultrasound receiver in the operating mode.

Abstract: A lightweight radio/CD player for vehicular application includes a case and frontal interface formed of polymer based material molded to provide details to accept audio devices and radio receivers, as well as the circuit boards required for electrical control and display. The case and frontal interface are of composite structure, including an insert molded electrically conductive wire mesh screen that has been pre-formed to contour with the molding operation. The wire mesh provides shielding and grounding of the circuit boards via exposed wire mesh pads and adjacent ground clips. The PCB architecture integrally forms a resilient beam portion adjacent an edge thereof carrying a grounding pad.

Abstract: A system and method for operating a power transistor. Parasitic impedances naturally present in a circuit board or other interconnect structures exhibit a parasitic impedance effective to generate a parasitic voltage signal in response to operating the power transistor. The parasitic voltage signal is monitored in order to better control the power transistor. In particular, the threshold voltage of the power transistor can be determined and used to more optimally control the power transistor.

Abstract: An electrical coil assembly includes a first housing and a second housing that surroundingly encloses the first housing. The coil assembly includes a ferrite layer and a thermally-conductive silicone layer that overlies the ferrite layer. A wire conductor surrounds the first housing. A structure is received in an opening defined in the first housing to be in thermal communication with the thermally-conductive silicone layer. Another thermally-conductive silicone layer overlies the first housing and the structure so that the structure is also in thermal communication therewith. A metal layer further overlies the thermally-conductive silicone layer that overlies the first housing. The second housing includes a non-dielectric cover and a dielectric cavity portion that receives the first housing. The coil assembly is associated with an electrical charging system that electrically charges an energy storage device disposed on a motorized vehicle.

Abstract: A control device, in particular for a motor vehicle, including a rotary switch and a peripheral display zone which are arranged on a board and which are back-lit by a back-lighting device, the rotary switch including a knob which is mounted in rotation relative to the board about an axis, the knob being provided with an illuminated pointer turning with the knob, the peripheral display zone including fixed illuminated symbols arranged around the rotary switch, characterized by the fact that the back-lighting device includes at least one light source which cooperates with a light guide lighting both the illuminated pointer and the peripheral display zone.

Abstract: An electrical connection system includes a first connector housing including electrical contacts and a second connector housing including corresponding electrical mating contacts. The first connector housing and electrical contacts are configured to mate with the second connector housing and the electrical mating contacts along a mating axis. At least one of the first and second connector housings includes a sealing member that surrounds the electrical contact associated with the at least one of the first and second connector housings and further contains a retaining means to retain the sealing member therein. The retaining means is integrally formed with the connector housing. A method to construct the electrical connection system that includes the sealing member and the integral retaining means is also presented.

Abstract: An Anode Protection Systems for a SOFC system, having a Reductant Supply and safety subsystem, a SOFC anode protection subsystem, and a Post Combustion and slip stream control subsystem. The Reductant Supply and safety subsystem includes means for generating a reducing gas or vapor to prevent re-oxidation of the Ni in the anode layer during the course of shut down of the SOFC stack. The underlying ammonia or hydrogen based material used to generate a reducing gas or vapor to prevent the re-oxidation of the Ni can be in either a solid or liquid stored inside a portable container. The SOFC anode protection subsystem provides an internal pressure of 0.2 to 10 kPa to prevent air from entering into the SOFC system. The Post Combustion and slip stream control subsystem provides a catalyst converter configured to treat any residual reducing gas in the slip stream gas exiting from SOFC stack.

Abstract: A sintered solid composite material is disclosed that includes a metal and a calcium alumina compound. The metal can be a noble metal. This composite material can bond to a ceramic material, and an article is disclosed that includes a first ceramic layer bonded to a second layer of the composite material of metal and calcium alumina compound. The ceramic can be a mixed ionic and electronic conductor (MEIC), and/or have a perovskite crystal structure, and/or be a mixed oxide comprising lanthanum, strontium, cobalt, iron and oxygen. The article can be used as an electrode such as a cathode of a solid oxide fuel cell.

Abstract: A fuel reformer includes a feedstream delivery unit and a catalytic reactor. The feedstream delivery unit is configured to receive reactants and to provide the reactants to the catalytic reactor. The reformer further includes a flame arrestor disposed between the feedstream delivery unit and the catalytic reactor, and at least one spacer disposed between the feedstream delivery unit and the catalytic reactor, wherein the spacer is configured to allow the reactants to flow therethrough while inhibiting thermal radiation therethrough. In a further aspect, the surfaces of the feedstream delivery unit that come into contact with the reactants in use include coatings that eliminate catalytic reactions of the feedstream within the feedstream delivery unit.

Abstract: A sub-cooled condenser for an air conditioning system, having a condenser portion, a sub-cooler portion located below that of the condenser portion, an adjacent receiver tank having a first fluid port in hydraulic connection with the condenser portion and a second fluid port in hydraulic connection with the sub-cooler portion, and a refrigerant diverter assembly disposed in the receiver tank. The refrigerant diverter assembly is configured to divert a refrigerant from the first fluid port to a location beneath the surface level of a refrigerant retained within the receiver tank without impacting the surface level. The refrigerant diverter assembly includes a refrigerant port in hydraulic connection with the first fluid port, axial and annular refrigerant passageways, and a refrigerant conduit having an inlet end in hydraulic communication with the annular passageway and a second fluid port beneath the surface level (S) of the liquid phase refrigerant.

Abstract: A system, controller, and method for aligning a stereo camera of a vehicle mounted object detection system that includes a first camera and a second camera mounted spaced apart on a vehicle. An image from each camera at two different times is used to determine an observed displacement of an object relative to the vehicle. A predicted displacement of the object relative to the vehicle is also determined using either a difference of vehicle position measured based on other vehicle measurements or GPS, or a difference of size of the object in images taken at the two different times. Alignment is provided by determining a triangulation correction based on a difference of the observed displacement and the predicted displacement to correct for misalignment of the cameras.

Abstract: A horizontal scroll compressor assembly for compressing a working fluid and lubricated with an oil, including a housing having an axis, an interior surface, and a suction sump for collected oil located in the suction plenum, and a compression mechanism including an orbital scroll member having a thrust surface, the thrust surface and the housing interior surface axially superposed. The thrust surface is provided with an oil distribution channel extending at least partially about an axis. Oil from the suction sump received into the distribution channel urged along the distribution channel and delivered to locations between the superposed surfaces during movement of the orbital scroll member about the axis relative to the housing.