Abstract: A method of making a structural connection in a metallic tubular assembly is provided. It comprises providing a node having at least two legs and forming a radially extending rib extending from an exterior surface of each of the legs by deforming a corresponding interior portion of each of the legs. At least one tube is provided having a radially extending flange adjacent an open end. The tube is placed over the exterior surface of one of the legs abuts the radially extending flange and the radially extending rib. By applying opposing forces to one of the legs and one tube to hold the radially extending flange and the radially extending rib in abutting contact at a joint, resistance welding can take place at the joint when at least one electrode is applied to the joint.

Abstract: Long-range remote communication and control of a vehicle is achieved with primary and secondary cellular devices provided by the vehicle user. The primary cellular device is retained by the user, while the secondary cellular device is dedicated to the vehicle and placed in a docking station provided in the vehicle passenger compartment. The vehicle docking station is equipped with typical cell phone electrical interfaces to supply power and to establish a bi-directional data communication link between the secondary cellular device and an on-board vehicle computer. The secondary cellular device remains activated, and provides a low-cost remotely accessible communication link between the on-board vehicle computer and the primary cellular device or any other phone, provided that specified security conditions are satisfied.

Abstract: In a pressure control system having a solenoid-operated fluid valve that has an output hydraulic pressure which varies in accordance with a solenoid input signal, a dynamic learning block is configured to adjust the initial, default values for control points stored in a pressure-current (P-I) data table based on observed (measured) operating points that reflect the solenoid's actual transfer characteristic. A feed forward control block is configured to generate the solenoid input signal having a level based on the adjusted control points in the data table, which improves the accuracy of the solenoid input signal. An adjustment method uses a plurality of circular buffers each configured to store observed operating points falling within a respective range, and provides a mechanism to allow adjustment of the control points based on only partial data.

Abstract: A textured surface is formed on at least one of a fuel cell mounting plate or fuel cell subassembly to define a joint spacing between these two components. In a preferred embodiment, the textured surface comprises a plurality of dimples coined or otherwise formed in the metal mounting plate. The joint spacing improves the manufacturing and assembly process of the fuel cell cassettes through precise application and control of the brazing process which improves the braze joint strength while reducing material cost.

Abstract: A receiver system and method are provided, wherein the system includes a plurality of antenna elements, and a receiver device configured to emit an output based upon the received signal. The receiver device communicates a control signal that corresponds to a determined signal quality of the received signal. The receiver system also includes a switch system adapted to switch among the plurality of antenna elements in a plurality of modes, wherein the switch system includes a first switch device and a second switch device. Further, the system includes a controller that receives the control signal, wherein the controller commands the switch system to operate in a first mode utilizing the first switch device when the determined signal quality is above a threshold value, and the controller commands the switch system to operate in a second mode utilizing the second switch device when the determined signal quality is below a threshold value.

Abstract: A coupling is provided for attaching an evaporative emission device having a housing to a mounting surface of a motor vehicle. The coupling includes a pair of tracks fixed the mounting surface and a pair of matching rails fixed to the housing. The rails are sized to slide within the tracks until reaching a predetermined seated position within the rails. An aperture is fixed to the mounting surface and includes a shoulder with a manufacturing tolerance defined about a nominal location at the predetermined seated position. A resilient latch is formed on the housing and located so as to snap into the aperture at the predetermined seated position. The latch includes a inclined engaging surface to engage the shoulder over the entire tolerance range of the shoulder.

Abstract: A camshaft phaser is provided for varying the phase relationship between a crankshaft and a camshaft in an internal combustion engine. The camshaft phaser includes a stator having a plurality of lobes. A rotor is disposed within the stator and includes a plurality of vanes interspersed with the stator lobes to define alternating advance and retard chambers. A bushing adaptor of the camshaft phaser is disposable axially within a pocket of the camshaft and is disposed axially within the rotor. The bushing adaptor defines at least in part a supply passage for communicating pressurized oil from the internal combustion engine to a control valve, an advance passage for selectively communicating pressurized oil from the control valve to the advance chambers, and a retard passage for selectively communicating pressurized oil from the control valve to the retard chambers.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an exhaust temperature sensor is disclosed. It includes forming a green ceramic substrate; and printing an electrical circuit on the green ceramic substrate. The method then contemplates trimming the electrical circuit to a predetermined resistance prior to firing the green ceramic. Finally, the method contemplates firing the green ceramic substrate with the electrical circuit thereon.

Abstract: A universal infrared analyzer that includes a tunable optical filter capable of being tuned to one of a selectable set of wavelengths of radiation by a controller accessing a database of a plurality of function specific settings and function specific signatures. The plurality of function specific settings includes settings for al least one of intruder detection, chemical detection, structural integrity detection, medical applications detection, and gas detection. The analyzer also includes a user input interface, for manually selecting one of the function specific settings and one of the function specific signatures. The controller tunes the tunable optical filter to one of the selectable set of wavelengths of radiation based upon the selected one of the function specific settings and a focal plane array generates a signature based upon a target detected by the focal plane array.

Abstract: An optical system and method for controlling light propagation along a light path. An optical element such as a lens is formed of a first light transmitting material and has a surface finish effective to scatter light impinging on the surface. Index matching material contacts to a portion of the surface so as to reduce or nullify the scattering effects of the surface finish within the portion. This allows the first optical element to have surfaces that have been generally prepared for scattering light and then later selectively negate the scattering effects of the surface finish by contacting portions of the surface with index matching material. As such, light in the optical element directed toward a surface or boundary within selected portion propagates into or out of the optical element. Light outside of the selected portion is scattered. Such an arrangement helps to reduce image degradation due to light outside of the light path being reflected about within the optical system.

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 major components and subassemblies self-interconnect by integral guide and connection features effecting “slide lock” and “snap lock” self-interconnection. The major components and subassemblies self-ground by establishing an interference fit with exposed, resilient, embossed portions of wire mesh.

Abstract: A solid oxide fuel cell stack having a plurality of cassettes and a compliant glass seal disposed between the sealing surfaces of adjacent cassettes, thereby joining the cassettes and providing a hermetic seal therebetween. The compliant glass seal may include a glass, at least one metal selected from Groups 9, 10, and 11 of the periodic table, and fibers of yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) to enhance the desirable properties of the compliant glass seal. The combined weight percentage of the at least one metal and YSZ in the compliant glass seal is 30 to 42.5 weight percent, preferably 37.5 percent.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack is provided with a plurality of fuel cell cassettes where each fuel cell cassette has a fuel cell with an anode and cathode. The fuel cell stack includes an anode supply chimney for supplying fuel to the anode of each fuel cell cassette, an anode return chimney for removing anode exhaust from the anode of each fuel cell cassette, a cathode supply chimney for supplying oxidant to the cathode of each fuel cell cassette, and a cathode return chimney for removing cathode exhaust from the cathode of each fuel cell cassette. A first fuel cell cassette includes a flow control member disposed between the anode supply chimney and the anode return chimney or between the cathode supply chimney and the cathode return chimney such that the flow control member provides a flow restriction different from at least one other fuel cell cassettes.

Abstract: An igniter for igniting combustible gases in a hot zone, such as in a solid oxide fuel cell, comprising a subassembly including an electrical resistance heating tip comprising SiC, metal leadframe clips formed of a nickel-based superalloy and attached to the heating tip, wire leads formed of a nickel-chromium alloy and connected to the leadframe clips for supplying electric current to the heating tip, and a nickel-based braze alloy comprising palladium and cobalt for connecting the leadframe clips to the heating tip and to the wire leads; an alumina ceramic body for receiving the brazed subassembly; and a potting compound comprising zirconia for potting the subassembly into the alumina ceramic body.

Abstract: An electrical connection system is presented that is especially suited for use with a solar shingle application disposed on a rooftop of a building structure. The electrical connection system, when underlying roof shingles disposed on the rooftop, has a low profile that prevents an undesired buckled visual appearance from occurring to the roof shingles over a service life of the roof shingles. The electrical connection system has a thickness that is about a diameter thickness of at least one wire conductor that attaches with at least one connector body of the electrical connection system. The electrical connection system further includes at least one latch mechanism, that when sufficiently engaged against by a tool, allows a plug connector body to unmate from a socket connector body or a shunt socket connector body. A method to construct the at least one connector of the electrical connection system is also presented.

Abstract: An occupant system includes a sensing device disposed in a seat and an electronic device configured to acquire data from the sensing device. The electronic device includes a system controller which uses that data to determine an appropriate system response. Data is acquired in at least two different system configurations and in at least two different time periods. A data set is created which represents a comparison of data acquired in the different configurations and times. The elements of this data set are compared to each other to identify anomalous data and respond accordingly.

Abstract: A deactivating hydraulic lash adjuster comprising a pin housing slidably disposed in a body and having at least one lock pin disposed in a transverse bore for extending into a receiver feature in the body to lock the two together during periods of engine operation in valve non-deactivation mode. The present improvement consists in providing a first orienting feature for the lash adjuster body that engages a second orienting feature on an engine head to provide a preferred and fixed orientation of the body within a bore in the engine head. In a currently preferred orientation, the axis of the at least one lock pin is parallel to the axis of the engine camshaft. The orientation of the lock pin(s) to the body is made invariant by insertion of a pin through a radial bore in the body into a longitudinal groove in the pin housing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recognizing obstacles in an environment about a motorized vehicle moving along a roadway is presented. The apparatus includes an optical sensor and a data processing device. A method using the apparatus includes taking images with the optical sensor which contains at least a first and a second image. The first and the second image are each transformed above and below a plane as viewed by the optical sensor to further determine upper and lower difference images by the data processing device. The data processing device further determines whether an obstacle is located in the travel path of the vehicle by evaluation of the lower and upper difference images.

Abstract: A method of making a planar solid oxide fuel cell is described involving: (1) sintering at least an electrolyte layer; (2) juxtaposing one of a sintered anode or cathode layer with a metal substrate, with a bonding agent therebetween; and (3) applying heat to bond the juxtaposed anode or cathode layer to the metal substrate; where the anode and cathode layers are each sintered, together or independently, simultaneously with sintering the electrolyte layer, simultaneously with applying heat to bond the ceramic fuel cell element to the metal substrate, or in one or more separate sintering steps.

Abstract: A standard cam phasing OCV may be employed as a virtual check valve to choke the backflow of oil during negative cam torque conditions, including execution of a duty cycle command in an event-based manner. Normally, OCV duty cycle commands are made on a time basis, but for VCV the duty cycle output change must be synchronized with engine events. A method is disclosed for calculating and delivering the VCV duty cycle so that both time-based and event-based controls are maintained and work together. Phase alignment of response time of the OCV solenoid is based upon cam target wheel edges and is event-based. An initial phase rate vs. phase angle is monitored by the Engine Control Module (ECM). Adjustment of the phase angle is provided to achieve maximum cam position phase rate.