Abstract: A human machine interface (HMI) for an automotive vehicle comprises an instrument cluster and at least one head-up display for displaying information. The HMI includes at least one picture generation unit, each of which includes a laser for generating a modulated laser beam and a micro-electromechanical scanning minor arranged in the optical path of the laser beam for sweeping the laser beam over a diffuser in a two-dimensional Lissajous pattern. The HMI further comprises a central control unit that may be interfaced with a vehicle's on-board computer and/or another on-board device. A processor of the central control unit is configured to determine the pictures to be generated by the at least two picture generation units and to calculate, for each picture generation unit, the two-dimensional Lissajous pattern and the modulation of the at least one laser beam, the combination of which results in the respective picture to be displayed.

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 coil apparatus includes a first housing and a second housing that surroundingly encloses the first housing. The first housing has a coil arrangement disposed therein. The coil arrangement 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 a 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 coil arrangement. The coil apparatus is associated with an electrical charging system (ECS) that electrically charges an energy storage device (ESD) disposed on a motorized vehicle.

Abstract: An electrical distribution center includes a housing composed of a first material having a first melting point, an electrical bus disposed in the housing, a removable electrical/electronic component electrically connected to the electrical bus and which produces a predetermined temperature in operation higher than the first melting point, an opening formed in the housing, and a socket mounted within the housing opening and physically supporting the electrical/electronic component. The socket is composed of a second, differing material having a second melting point higher than the predetermined temperature produced by the electrical/electronic component in operation, whereby the housing is effectively isolated and protected by the socket as the electrical/electronic component operates.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of determining the junction temperature (Tj) and drain-source current (Ids) of a standard FET within a multi-FET module includes a control IC managing one or more 3 terminal standard FETs within the same package, calculating Tj and Tds for one or more FETs in one or more packages, and protecting each FET against short circuit faults while allowing high current transients, such as inrush currents from a lamp load.

Abstract: A vehicle air conditioner system having, and method of operating, an externally controlled variable displacement compressor and a compressor clutch. If the system is operating during conditions when the operating displacement is low, the efficiency of the system is increased by duty cycling the clutch. Operating an externally controlled variable displacement compressor in this manner can also prevent overcooling by the air conditioner.

Abstract: An assembly for liquid cooling electronics by direct submersion into circulated engine coolant that includes an epoxy material dispensed around leads of electronics devices in a manner effective to mechanically secure the electronics devices to the assembly and prevent engine coolant leakage around the leads, and a Parylene™ coating layer deposited in a manner effective to protect the electronic device from electrically conductive engine coolant such as ethylene glycol. Such an assembly is useful in hybrid electric vehicles that have engine coolant available from the vehicle's internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A map matching method for a vehicle safety warning system (VSWS) is provided. The method includes the steps of a) determining if intelligent transportation system (ITS) map data is available, b) determining a vehicle location and a vehicle heading, c) determining an envelope area around a road feature defined by the ITS map data, d) determining a segment heading for a segment of the road feature, e) determining a separation distance between the vehicle location and the segment if the vehicle location is located within the envelope area, the segment heading is substantially similar to the vehicle heading, and optionally, the segment elevation is substantially similar to the vehicle elevation, and f) map matching the vehicle location to the segment if the separation distance is less than a threshold.

Abstract: An electrical contact includes a knurl pattern disposed along at least a portion of an interior surface of the electrical contact. The portion receives a lead of a wire cable along a longitudinal axis and is attached thereto to form a crimp connection. The knurl pattern includes a plurality of recessed elements and each recessed element has a rhombus shape that includes inner corners. An orientation of a first pair of opposing, generally axial inner corners define an axial minor distance therebetween and an orientation of a second pair of opposing, inner corners define a major distance therebetween. The axial minor distance is less than the major distance. The recessed elements of the knurl pattern are especially suitable for engagement with an aluminum wire cable to form the crimp connection. A wire assembly that includes the crimp connection is associated with a cable harness disposed in a motorized vehicle.

Abstract: A parallel parking assistant system integrated with a vehicle and method thereof are provided, the parking assistant system including a first sensor configured to determine a first distance, a second sensor configured to determine a second distance, and a controller configured to provide commands as a function of the first and second determined distances. The commands include a first command configured to command a steering system to be in a clockwise position while the vehicle is moving in a reverse direction for a first reversing distance, a second command configured to command the steering system to be in a substantially straight position while the vehicle is moving in a reverse direction for a second reversing distance, and a third command configured to command the steering system to be in a counter-clockwise position while the vehicle is a moving in a reverse direction for a third reversing distance.

Abstract: A heat exchanger including a pair of manifolds. An inlet is disposed on one of the ends of the first manifold. A core extends between the manifolds for conveying a coolant therebetween and for transferring heat between the coolant and a stream of air. A cross-over plate is disposed in one of the manifolds to divide the associated one of the manifolds into an upstream section and a downstream section. The cross-over plate presents a plurality of orifices defining a cross-over opening area for establishing fluid communication between the upstream and downstream sections of the associated manifold. The cross-over opening area continuously increases along an axis away from the inlet. The total cross-over opening area is 30% to 300% of the upstream cross-sectional area of the tubes of the core.

Abstract: A method to avert an unlawfully intoxicated driver from operating a vehicle is provided. The method utilizes a passive ethanol vapor sensor to measure ethanol vapor concentration in air from a vehicle cabin and imposes a safety response when the passive ethanol vapor sensor detects that a sample of vehicle cabin air indicates that a vehicle occupant exceeds the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) for a motor vehicle driver. The ethanol vapor sensor may have a passive measurement mode and an active breathalyzer mode. Ethanol vapor in a vehicle cabin may be passively measured and if a predetermined ethanol level is measured, a countermeasure is invoked to improve safety. An active breathalyzer may be used as a countermeasure. The active breathalyzer can be imposed for a number of vehicle trips or for a predetermined time period.

Abstract: A method of measuring a chemical vapor concentration is provided. A chemical vapor sensor measures a chemical species of interest with high sensitivity and chemical specificity. In an aspect, an ethanol vapor sensor is provided, sized for being inconspicuous and on-board a vehicle, having a passive measurement mode and an active breathalyzer mode, for detecting a motor vehicle driver that exceeds a legal limit of blood alcohol concentration (BAC), for use with vehicle safety systems. For the passive mode, a vapor concentrator is utilized to amplify a sampled vapor concentration to a detectable level for use with an infrared (IR) detector. In an aspect, ethanol vapor in a vehicle cabin is passively measured and if a predetermined ethanol level is measured, a countermeasure is invoked to improve safety. In an aspect, an active breathalyzer is used as a countermeasure. The active breathalyzer can be imposed for a number of vehicle trips or for a predetermined time period.

Abstract: A planar magnetic structure has an electrically insulating carrier made up of a base portion and opposed upstanding sidewalls. A plurality of planar primary windings and planar secondary windings are interstitially disposed within the carrier with planar dielectric spacers located between each adjacent pair of windings. A ferrite core envelopes the assembly to magnetically couple the windings. The carrier and windings form at least two spaces-apart sets of cooperating registration features which maintain the windings in fixed alignment with the carrier.

Abstract: A system for separating and storing carbon dioxide (CO2) in exhaust produced by an internal combustion engine. The system uses a scrubber tank containing a carbon dioxide absorbent fluid to capture CO2 in the exhaust. The system also includes a carbon dioxide storage means configured to temporarily store the captured CO2, and a CO2 recovery facility to refine the captured CO2 for future use or prepare the CO2 for permanent storage. The system is intended for installation on vehicles such as automobiles to reduce the amount of CO2 emitted by automobiles into the environment, but could also be used for other applications such as stationary power generators.

Abstract: A heat exchanger assembly having an insertable distributor tube retainer tab configured to position and retain a distributor tube disposed within a first manifold extending along an axis Amanifold. The first manifold includes a manifold wall having an interior surface defining an interior chamber, an exterior surface opposite of the interior surface, and a retainer slot connecting the interior surface and the exterior surface. The retainer slot extends substantially transverse to the manifold axis Amanifold. The retainer tab is inserted through the retainer slot and includes a first tab portion disposed within the interior chamber and a second tab portion 104 engaged to the wall of the first manifold, and may also include a third tab portion engaged to a width surface of the retainer slot. The retainer tab includes a tab opening configured to engage and maintain the distributor tube within the predetermined position.

Abstract: A connector includes an electromagnetic shield formed of conductive material with at least two depending, conductive, reinforcement sidewalls that each have a plurality of conductive depending sidewall legs distributed about a periphery of the shield and extending upwardly. The shield includes at least one conductive ground tab extending from an edge such that the shield provides a ground path directly from a circuit board to a connector housing. The shield defines at least one opening for receiving an alignment post and at least one additional rectangular opening to permit access to an electrical terminal positioned below the sheet. The rectangular opening may be aligned with terminals positioned within connector housing.

Abstract: A method for producing a single-layer diffractive combiner for a head-up display having a projection unit with n light sources of ?i wavelength(s), where i=1 to n sending light towards the combiner at an angle ?p. The method includes forming interference fringes for each ?i wavelength on a photosensitive layer with an interference of two light beams from a single laser source of wavelength ?e, where the forming step is repeated n times, and each time the forming step is repeated an angle ?i between the two beams is determined according to ?i=arcsin ((?e/?i)*sin(?p)), one of the interfering beams being divergent and having a spherical wave front and the other being a plane wave, the interference of the beams generating a diffractive network with an adjustable pitch and curved contour fringe lines.

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 windshield assembly that includes a fluorescent electrowetting cell and an opaque electrowetting cell overlying a windshield and configured so the opaque electrowetting cell cooperates with the fluorescent electrowetting cell to contrast an image displayed by the fluorescent electrowetting cell with respect to a field of view beyond the windshield assembly. The ability to contrast the image makes the image easier to see when bright sunlight is present.