Abstract: An engine control system and method for determining if an exhaust gas recirculation EGR runner between an EGR valve and a cylinder inlet is obstructed using a single exhaust gas sensor and individual cylinder fuel control (ICFC). A controller determines an off-state value based on an off-state air/fuel combustion ratio of a particular cylinder indicated by the single exhaust gas sensor while the EGR valve is operated to the off-state and while the engine is operating at a first speed-load condition, and determines an on-state value based on an on-state air/fuel combustion ratio of the particular cylinder indicated by the single exhaust gas sensor while the EGR valve is operated to the on-state and while the engine is operating at a second speed-load condition. The controller then determines if the EGR runner associated with the particular cylinder is obstructed based on the off-state value and the on-state value.

Abstract: An actuator assembly includes a housing with a motor compartment, a gear compartment, a bulkhead separating the motor compartment from the gear compartment, and an aperture through the bulkhead. The actuator assembly also includes a motor assembly in the motor compartment defining a space radially between the motor assembly and the gear motor compartment. A high thermal conductivity material is disposed within the space to transfer heat from the motor assembly to the housing. The bulkhead includes one of a groove and a rib surrounding the aperture on the side of the bulkhead facing the motor compartment and the motor assembly includes the other of the groove and the rib such that the rib fits within the groove to prevent the high thermal conductivity material from migrating radially inward of the groove and the rib when the high thermal conductivity material is injected into the space.

Abstract: An actuator assembly includes a housing having a central axis, a motor compartment on one end defined about the central axis, a gear compartment on the other end. An electronic rotational position sensor is fixed relative to the housing proximate the motor compartment. A motor assembly is disposed in the motor compartment and has a hollow input shaft extending along the central axis into the gear compartment. An output shaft extends along the central axis and has a lower end extending out of the gear compartment and an upper end extending freely through the hollow input shaft to a point proximate to the electronic rotational position sensor. A gear assembly is supported within the gear compartment for translating rotation of the input shaft to the output shaft. A sensed object is disposed on the upper end of the output shaft opposed to the speed sensor.

Abstract: A modular actuator assembly is provided which is adapted to accommodate a predetermined range of gear ratios. The modular actuator assembly includes a standard housing having a central axis, a motor compartment on one end defined about the central axis and a generally cylindrical, coaxial gear compartment on the other end with a fixed diameter. A drive motor is disposed in the motor compartment and has an input shaft extending along the central axis into the gear compartment. An output shaft extends along the central axis and out of the gear compartment and is supported for free, coaxial rotation within the gear compartment. A gear assembly includes predetermined radial design clearances that are sufficiently large to allow gears of differing diameters to be included to allow the predetermined range of gear ratios to be accommodated with the standard housing.

Abstract: A housing for a vehicle audio system includes a trim panel assembly and a box-like case forming a partially closed cavity. The trim panel assembly includes a decorative molded plastic face plate carrying vehicle occupant accessible controls and displays, and a printed circuit board disposed in a spaced relationship behind said face plate. An audio device and a radio frequency communication device are mounted within the housing. The communication device has a generally “L” or “T” shaped antenna formed of electrically conductive plastic material having a thermal expansion characteristic substantially equal to that of said decorative face plate. The antenna includes an elongated element insert molded within the face plate and a feed portion which extends rearwardly from said element to mechanically and electrically engage the printed circuit board. The feed portion self-engages a PCB via for retention in a fixed, spaced relationship with the decorative face plate.

Abstract: Control panel including a cover mounted on a support that is provided with a tactile pressing detection zone in which a force sensor that includes a pressure-sensitive zone is arranged behind a detection zone between the cover and the support so as to produce an electrical control signal when a user applies a determined tactile pressing force to the detection zone. The tactile pressing force is transmitted axially (X1) towards the sensitive zone via a spacer made of elastically compressible material interposed between the sensor and the cover. The spacer includes at least one compressible portion that defines a transversal top surface that bears against the cover and a transversal bottom surface that bears against the sensitive zone of the sensor. The top surface has an area smaller than the area of the bottom surface.

Abstract: Pressure sensitive transducer assembly that includes a force sensing resistor. The force sensing resistor includes: first and second substrates; at least a first and a second electrically conductive traces on the inner surface of the first substrate including interdigitated fingers defining a sensitive area; and a resistive layer facing the sensitive area. The force sensing resistor includes an auxiliary trace on the inner surface of the first substrate connecting the first trace to the second trace through a constant resistance that is not dependent on the force applied to the substrates. The constant resistance being of a value largely greater than the value of the variable resistance which can be measured indirectly between the fingers when an external force is applied to the substrates. A system and a control method are also proposed.

Abstract: An electrical contact includes at least one grooved channel defined in an interior surface of the electrical contact along at least a portion the electrical contact disposed along a longitudinal axis. The portion is configured to axially receive a lead of a wire cable for attachment thereto and thereby allow the attached lead to at least engagingly make contact against a recessed surface of the grooved channel. The grooved channel has a depth and includes at a least one sidewall extending along the depth. The sidewall includes at least one section that angularly extends from the interior surface to a point recessed from the interior surface disposed on the sidewall along the depth.

Abstract: A method and device allow the determination of the concentrations of a plurality of gas species in a gas mixture based on the output signals from a plurality of gas sensors, each of which is sensitive to a plurality of gas species in the gas mixture. The method includes measuring the response of each sensor at a number of levels of each gas in the mixture, determining a mathematical representation of the response characteristics of each sensor, and using the mathematical representation to determine gas concentrations from sensor readings.

Abstract: Each generic gear includes one tooth disposed in each of the sockets, and each tooth extends radially outward from one of the sockets and throat thereof. The teeth of the generic gear include resilient material adjacent the throat for compressing and allowing movement of each tooth relative to the outer periphery. In the species of FIG. 1, each tooth is entirely of the resilient material and diverges or circumferentially widens from adjacent the throat to define a gap from the throat to the outer periphery. In the species of FIG. 2, each tooth has a shell integral with the hub and a core of the resilient material fills each shell and extends into the socket to define a crescent-shaped gap with the socket end.

Abstract: A method is provided for diagnosing a multi-mode valve train device which selectively provides high lift and low lift to a combustion valve of an internal combustion engine having a camshaft phaser actuated by an electric motor. The method includes applying a variable electric current to the electric motor to achieve a desired camshaft phaser operational mode and commanding the multi-mode valve train device to a desired valve train device operational mode selected from a high lift mode and a low lift mode. The method also includes monitoring the variable electric current and calculating a first characteristic of the parameter. The method also includes comparing the calculated first characteristic against a predetermined value of the first characteristic measured when the multi-mode valve train device is known to be in the desired valve train device operational mode.

Abstract: A lightweight radio/CD player for vehicular application is virtually “fastenerless” and includes a case and frontal interface formed of polymer based material that is molded to provide details to accept audio devices such as playback mechanisms (if desired) 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 EMC, RFI, BCI and ESD shielding and grounding of the circuit boards via exposed wire mesh pads and adjacent ground clips. The PCB architecture is bifurcated into a first board carrying common circuit components in a surface mount configuration suitable for high volume production, and a second board carrying application specific circuit components in a wave soldered stick mount configuration.

Abstract: A camshaft phaser includes a housing with an array of internal splines formed within a bore. A harmonic gear drive unit is disposed within the housing and includes a circular spline and a dynamic spline, a flexspline disposed radially within the circular spline and the dynamic spline, a wave generator disposed radially within the flexspline, and a rotational actuator connectable to the wave generator. One of the circular spline and the dynamic spline is fixed to the housing. A hub is rotatably disposed radially within the housing and attachable to the camshaft and fixed to the other of the circular spline and the dynamic spline. A back plate has an array of external splines engaged in a sliding fit with the array of internal splines for transmitting torque from the back plate to said housing. The back plate also has an input sprocket for receiving rotational motion, in use.

Abstract: A lightweight radio/CD player for vehicular application is virtually “fastenerless” and includes a case and frontal interface formed of polymer based material that is molded to provide details to accept audio devices such as playback mechanisms (if desired) 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 EMC, RFI, BCI and ESD shielding and grounding of the circuit boards via exposed wire mesh pads and adjacent ground clips. The PCB architecture is bifurcated into a first board carrying common circuit components in a surface mount configuration suitable for high volume production, and a second board carrying application specific circuit components in a wave soldered stick mount configuration.

Abstract: A needle indicator assembly that includes a pointer formed at least in part of magnetized material, and configured to rotate about an axis and thereby define an area swept by the pointer. The assembly also includes a plurality of electromagnets arranged around a perimeter of the area, said electromagnets operable to urge the pointer to point in a desired direction. An instrument panel equipped this needle assembly overlying a reconfigurable display gives the appearance that the pointer is floating above the display, and the means by which the pointer is moved is not readily apparent.

Abstract: A circuit assembly that includes a planar lead frame formed of electrically conductive material having a first thickness. The lead frame is configured to define a routing plane and a plurality of coplanar sections in the routing plane. The circuit assembly also includes a top-side terminal formed of electrically conductive material having a second thickness independent of the first thickness.

Abstract: A control panel comprising a cover that is equipped with at least one zone for detecting tactile contact forming a control button, in which a force sensor comprising a pressure-sensitive zone is arranged between the cover and the support so as to detect actuation of the control button, the force of the tactile contact being transmitted axially to the sensitive zone via a spacer plate made of an elastically compressible material that is inserted between the sensor and the cap, characterized in that the internal surface of the cap comprises a series of protruding elements that are distributed over the internal surface of the cap opposite the sensitive zone so as to form a number of regularly distributed zones of localized overpressure.

Abstract: A system and a method of controlling a ventilation or HVAC system that is configured to provide an air stream having a comfortable contact velocity to an occupant seated in a vehicle cabin. The system includes a sensor to determine the distance from a discharge nozzle to the vehicle occupant and a controller to control the exit velocity and/or an effective diameter of the nozzle. The sensor may use ultrasonic, infrared, LIDAR, or RADAR technology to determine distance. The system may determine the distance from the nozzle to the occupant based on a seat location determined by a seat location sensor. The seat location sensor may be common to an inflatable restraint (air bag) system.

Abstract: A combustor for generating and supplying hot combustion gases to a fuel reformer includes an annular passage defined by a swirler having a central hub and an outer wall. One or more vanes are disposed in the annular passage to impart angular momentum to a gas flowing axially through the annular passage. At least one opening is defined in the central hub for introducing a first fuel into the annular passage, and at least one opening is defined in the outer wall in for introducing a second fuel into the annular passage. In a further aspect of the invention, the fuel introduced into the annular passage through the outer wall is a gaseous fuel, for example effluent gas from a fuel cell, and the fuel introduced into the annular passage through the central hub is a vaporized liquid fuel, for example vaporized diesel fuel.

Abstract: A seat belt system configured for use in a vehicle includes a seat belt buckle assembly that is configured to determine the both the latch condition of the seat belt buckle assembly with the seat belt tongue, and the tension applied to the seat belt webbing in a seat belt system. The seat belt buckle assembly includes a latch configured to receive and engage the seat belt tongue, a magnet, and a magnetic sensor configured to determine relative displacement of the magnet. The seat belt buckle assembly is configured to cause a first displacement between the magnet and the magnetic sensor in response to engagement of the seat belt tongue with the latch and cause a second displacement between the magnet and the magnetic sensor in response to tension on the seat belt webbing via the seat belt tongue. The first displacement is distinct from the second displacement.