Abstract: Apparatus and method for operating a fuel cell system including a hydrocarbon catalytic reformer and close-coupled fuel cell stack by recycling anode syngas into the reformer in a range between 60% and 95% of the total syngas. At equilibrium conditions, oxygen required for reforming of hydrocarbon fuel is derived from endothermically reformed water and carbon dioxide in the syngas. Reforming temperature is between about 650° C. to 750° C. The stack exit temperature is about 800° C. to 880° C. such that the required endotherm can be provided by the sensible heat of the recycled syngas. The stack has approximately equal anode and cathode gas flows in opposite directions, resulting in cooling from both the anodes and cathodes.

Abstract: The duration of a knock detection window over which a filtered knock signal is single-point DFT-processed for engine knock detection is user adjustable. The knock detection window is defined by at least two overlapping identical duration sub-windows, and the extent of the sub-window overlap is changed to adjust the duration of the knock detection window. The DFT processing is performed over each sub-window and the processing results are combined for knock detection.

Abstract: An antenna system for a vehicle including a front windshield glass and a rear windshield is disclosed. The antenna system comprises an antenna unit including a radiating element electromagnetically coupled to an excitation element. The radiating element is coupled to the front windshield glass, and the excitation element is positioned on a passenger compartment interior surface of the front windshield glass. The antenna system also comprises a high-gain antenna unit including first radiating elements, a second radiating element, a 90-degree phase shift circuit, and a low noise amplifier that is coupled to the phase shift circuit. The first radiating elements receive signals through the rear windshield glass. The antenna unit and the high-gain antenna unit may function in a diversity antenna configuration.

Abstract: A method for identifying objects in an electronic image is provided. The method includes the steps of providing an electronic source image and processing the electronic source image to identify edge pixels. The method further includes the steps of providing an electronic representation of the edge pixels and processing the electronic representation of the edge pixels to identify valid edge center pixels. The method still further includes the step of proving an electronic representation of the valid edge center pixels. Each valid edge center pixel represents the approximate center of a horizontal edge segment of a target width. The horizontal edge segment is made up of essentially contiguous edge pixels. The method also includes the steps of determining symmetry values of test regions associated with valid edge center pixels, and classifying the test regions based on factors including symmetry.

Abstract: A switching control system and method is provided that optimizes switching efficiencies for power switching applications including automotive ignition systems, solenoid drivers, motor drivers and power regulation systems. In an ignition system, a coil current switching magnitude is controlled at the start of ignition coil charging, thereby avoiding an untimely spark event. When the transistor threshold voltage is reached, the collapse rate of the ignition system transistor collector voltage is reduced by reducing the gate charging current. The reduced collector voltage slew rate results in a reduced primary and secondary coil output voltage. After the collector voltage collapses, a continued rapid charge is provided to place the transistor in a hard saturation bias condition. In an aspect, the present invention dynamically determines the threshold voltage of a power transistor.

Abstract: A clip for securing a sleeve to the body of a piezoelectric actuator in an actuator assembly. The clip takes the form of a band and has at least a first and a second stable state. The minimum separation of the walls of the band when the clip is in one of the stable states is less than the minimum separation of the walls of the band when the clip is in an unstable state. The clip is forced into an unstable state in order to be fitted over the sleeve of the actuator assembly. The force is then removed to allow the clip to revert towards a stable state. The dimensions of the clip are such that the clip is unable to fully revert to a stable state when fitted to the actuator assembly thereby maintaining sufficient additional strain energy to maintain a sufficient clamping force between the sleeve and the body of the actuator.

Abstract: A valve lifter assembly for deactivating a cylinder in an internal combustion engine. The valve lifter assembly is provided with a plunger movably disposed within a bore of a main body member to controllably isolate the cam lift from the rocker arm and valve of the engine. The plunger is normally locked in an extended position to transmit cam lift to reciprocatingly operate the valve. At least one locking pin is moveably disposed within the plunger to engage an inner annular groove of the main body member. Pressurized oil is provided to dislodge the locking pins from the annular groove and allow the plunger to move within the main body member, thereby isolating the cam lift from the rocker arm and valve. The deactivating lifter is preferably disposed within the recess conventionally provided for hydraulic valve lifters.

Abstract: Driver distraction in a motor vehicle is assessed by capacitively detecting the driver's head pose relative to the forward direction of vehicle motion. A symmetrical array of sensor electrodes is disposed in the cockpit ceiling above the driver's head, and pairs of electrodes disposed along varying axes of rotation with respect to the forward direction are successively activated for capacitance measurement. The capacitance measurements are combined to form a signal whose strength depends on the degree of alignment between the driver's head (i.e., the head pose) and the respective axes of rotation, and the driver's head pose is calculated to assess driver distraction.

Abstract: A vehicle crash event is detected and characterized based on the transmission of acoustical shear waves through the vehicle frame. At least three, and preferably four or more, acoustical emission sensors longitudinally and laterally distributed on the vehicle frame produce acoustical signals that are processed to extract the shear wave energy due to impacts. Since shear waves are non-dispersive and travel through the vehicle frame at a known velocity, they can be detected in any part of the frame. The extracted shear wave signals are used not only to judge the severity of the impact, but also to characterize the type of crash and determine the direction of the impact based on when the shear wave is detected by each of the acoustical emission sensors.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for storing a liquid NOx reductant on a vehicle. The apparatus comprises a container for containing the liquid NOx reductant, a first heating device located in the container and adapted to heat the NOx reductant in use, and a tube that has a first end adapted to be submerged in the liquid NOx reductant in the container in use. The tube is adapted to extract liquid NOx reductant from the container and the tube includes a second heating device extending along at least a portion of the length of the tube that is located within the container.

Abstract: A method for reducing steering instability in a hydraulic power steering system for a vehicle having a pair of cylinder lines through which hydraulic fluid is conveyed in assisting turning a vehicle wheel, including the steps of determining which of said pair of cylinder lines results in less steering instability when the vehicle wheel is turned; calculating the fluid inertance of the hydraulic fluid conveyed through the cylinder line that results in less steering instability; and altering at least one dimension of the cylinder line that results in greater steering instability when the vehicle wheel is turned to substantially match the fluid inertance thereof to the calculated fluid inertance.

Abstract: A fuel injection system for an internal combustion engine comprises: a first fuel injector which is arranged within a housing unit; an accumulator volume for supplying fuel to the first fuel injector; a first fuel pump arrangement comprising a pumping plunger which is driven, in use, to cause pressurisation of fuel within a first pump chamber; a first metering valve which is operable to control fuel flow into the first pump chamber; a first fuel passage providing communication between the first pump chamber and the accumulator volume; and a first non-return valve located in the first fuel passage between the first pump chamber and the accumulator volume; wherein the first fuel injector communicates with the first fuel passage at a position between the first non-return valve and the accumulator volume; and wherein communication between the first fuel injector and the accumulator volume is uninterrupted.

Abstract: An antenna system and a method for communicating signals by a dual circularly polarized antenna system are provided. The antenna system includes a substantially straight microstrip segment and a plurality of substantially straight microstrip projections. The plurality of microstrip projections extend from the microstrip segment in pairs at a predetermined angle, wherein each microstrip projection of the pair of microstrip projections extends from substantially the same location on the microstrip segment. A first microstrip projection extends from the microstrip segment on a first side of the microstrip segment and a second microstrip projection extends from the microstrip segment on a second side of the microstrip segment, such that the first and second microstrip projections at least one of emit and receive circularly polarized radiation in a first direction and circularly polarized radiation in a second direction simultaneously.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a metal-plastic hybrid heat exchanger including the steps of providing a plurality of metallic fins, providing a plastic tank with a melting point above a predetermined temperature and having a header plate that includes a plurality slots, and providing a plurality of plastic tubes with a melting point above the predetermined temperature. The plastic tubes are inserted into the corresponding slots of the plastic tank to form an assembly. The metal fins are inserted between the plastic tubes of the assembly. A thermoplastic adhesive is applied onto the mating surfaces of the metal fins and the plastic tubes, and onto mating surfaces of the slots and the plastic tubes of the assembly. The metal plastic heat exchanger assembly is then heated with infrared radiation to the predetermined temperature to cure the thermoplastic adhesive, thereby bonding the metal fins and the slotted headers to the tubes.

Abstract: A system and method of a stereo receiving system, including a plurality of antennas, a receiving device, a plurality of summing devices, a phase lock loop device, a controllable phase shifter device, and a gain-control device. The plurality of antennas receive RF signals having a common frequency but potentially different phases. The receiving device is in electrical communication with the plurality of antennas. The plurality of summing devices are in electrical communication between at least one of the plurality of antennas and the receiving device. The phase lock loop device is in electrical communication with the receiving device. The gain-control device is in electrical communication between the plurality of antennas and the receiving device, wherein the gain-control device controls a signal-to-noise ratio of the RF signals aligned from the plurality of antennas.

Abstract: A dual NOx trap system for reducing NOx emissions from an internal combustion engine. The system is plumbed and controlled such that the NOx adsorption time of a trap is decoupled from the NOx regeneration time. A trap is taken out of service for regeneration only for the minimum required regeneration time and then is placed back into service. Because regeneration times are short relative to adsorption times, during most of the working life of the assembly both of the traps are in service in NOx-trapping mode. Thus, higher NOx-trapping efficiencies are provided over most of the working life of the system because each unit volume of catalyst is in service for more than 50% of the time, permitting a smaller volume of catalyst for each trap than in a prior art system. Further, shorter off-line regeneration times result in reduced cooling of the traps during regeneration.

Abstract: A system and methods for evaluating the response of an optical digital disk player to vibration encountered during playback of optical digital disks are provided. The system includes a simulator configured to provide digital simulated output signals simulating the output of an optical digital disk player encountering vibration during playback of an optical digital disk. The system also includes digital-to-analog converter circuitry to convert the digital simulated output signals to analog simulated output signals and provide the analog simulated output signals to processing circuitry. The processing circuitry generates control signals based on the value of the analog simulated output signals, and provides the control signals as outputs.

Abstract: A plastic case surrounds a primary winding of a multicharge ignition system, and has a rib in which the high voltage end is routed back to the low voltage end, so that the low and high voltage ends can be closely juxtaposed with each other while advantageously permitting the primary winding to have one and only one winding layer to reduce resistance and size. The rib of the case extends into the slot of the magnetic shields of the winding.

Abstract: The invention provides a heat exchanger assembly having a housing which defines a boiling chamber extending along an axis between opposite ends. A plurality of first condensing tubes extend axially and downwardly in one direction at a first predetermined angle to and below the axis (A) from the housing and a plurality of second condensing tubes extend axially and upwardly in the opposite direction at the same predetermined angle to and above the axis (A) from the housing. The volume of refrigerant in the housing is greater than the volume of the second condensing tubes and the volume of the boiling chamber.

Abstract: A system for determining whether a lead is securely inserted into a connector includes an actuator for moving the lead to a plurality of positions, a position sensor for measuring a position of the lead relative to the connector, and a force sensor for measuring an actual force exerted on the lead at each of the plurality of positions to define an actual force signature. A processor compares the actual force signature to a predetermined force signature to determine whether the lead is disposed within the opening of the connector. The method includes the steps of moving the lead to a plurality of positions, establishing an actual force signature, and establishing a predetermined force signature. If the actual force signature is within the predetermined force signature, then the lead is securely inserted into the opening.