Abstract: A method of manufacturing a printed circuit board (PCB) includes of disposing thermal transfer vias and electrical vias through the PCB. The method further includes filling holes of the vias with a solder mask. The thermal transfer vias are filled to about 70% of capacity while the electrical vias are completely filled. Once filled, surfaces of the PCB are coated with an organic solderability preservative.

Abstract: A vehicle pre-impact sensing system is provided that includes an array of energy signal transmitters mounted on a vehicle for transmitting signals within multiple transmit zones spaced from the vehicle and an array of receiver elements mounted on the vehicle for receiving signals reflected from an object located in one or more multiple receive zones indicative of the object being in certain one or more zones. A processor processes the received reflected signals and determines range, location, speed and direction of the object, determines whether the object is expected to impact the vehicle as a function of the determined range, location, speed and direction of the object, and generates an output signal indicative of a pre-impact event. The system may detect one or more features of a target object, such as a front end of a vehicle. Additionally, the system may modulate the transmit beams. Further, the system may perform a terrain normalization to remove stationary items.

Abstract: The invention relates to a drive circuit for an injector arrangement comprising a first fuel injector in parallel with a capacitive component. The drive circuit comprises: a selector means and diagnostic means. The selector means is operable to select the first fuel injector and/or the capacitive component into the drive circuit and to deselect the first fuel injector and/or the capacitive component from the drive circuit. When the capacitive component is selected and the first fuel injector is deselected, the diagnostic means is operable to sense a current through the first fuel injector. When the sensed current is at variance from a first threshold current the diagnostic means is operable to provide a first signal on detection of a stack terminal short circuit fault associated with the first fuel injector. The capacitive component may be a second fuel injector.

Abstract: A constant velocity joint assembly includes an outer joint member and an inner joint member. A first shaft is coupled to the inner joint member for articulated movement with the inner joint member relative to the outer joint member. A boot is coupled to the first shaft and the outer joint member to seal the constant velocity joint assembly. An insert is secured to and supported within the boot adjacent to and in abutting engagement with an axial end of the outer joint member. The insert limits movement of the first shaft to within a pre-determined range of articulation to prevent disengagement and/or disassembly of the inner joint member relative to the outer joint member.

Abstract: A hydraulic auxiliary power steering for motor vehicles having a source for a hydraulic medium, in particular an oil pump, which can be driven during operation by a drive device, in particular by an internal combustion engine of the vehicle or by an electric motor, having a steering transmission and having a line system for the hydraulic medium connecting the source to the steering transmission, wherein the line system has at least two line sections through which the hydraulic medium can flow.

Abstract: An electric power steering system for a vehicle includes a motor for providing assistance in turning the wheels of the vehicle. The motor is electrically connected to a controller. The controller includes a power device, such as a power transistor, electrically connected to the motor to variably provide electric power to the motor as needed. The controller also includes a gate drive device electrically connected to the power device for regulating operation the power device. A shutdown mechanism is electrically connected between the gate drive device and a power input. In the event of a fault, the shutdown mechanism isolates electrical power from the gate drive device. This prevents the power device from providing electric power to the power steering motor.

Abstract: Differential thermal conditioning of vehicle seat zones is achieved with convenient adjustment of a seat temperature differential for optimizing the thermal comfort of the seat occupant. Two or more thermoelectric units supply conditioned air to different zones of the seat, and the temperature differential between specified zones of the seat is set by an occupant-adjustable control input.

Abstract: A transmission shift mechanism for use with a vehicle transmission. The transmission shift mechanism includes a user-operated selector and a sub-assembly operably disposed between said user-operated selector and the vehicle transmission. The sub-assembly includes a torque-transfer member having a first portion and a second portion wherein the first portion is pivotally secured to the transmission shift mechanism about a pivot axis and the second portion defines a section of a substantially spherical surface which is engageably disposed within a non-linear camming slot defined by the transmission shift section. The torque-transfer member takes the form of a molded polymeric body with a sheet metal insert disposed within the molded polymeric body. The second portion of the torque-transfer member may include flats to reduce the volume of polymeric material required in the manufacture of the member. A method of manufacturing such a torque-transfer member or crank arm is also disclosed.

Abstract: An SDARS receiver for use with at least two antennae, each of which receives bitstreams from a first satellite, bitstreams from a second satellite, and bitstreams from a terrestrial repeater, including demodulators configured to switch between demodulating bitstreams from the satellites and to switch between demodulating bitstreams from the terrestrial repeater, and a processor coupled to the demodulators, the processor being configured to switch the demodulators according to a variety of algorithms.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing “point of interest” information to travelers. Large databases can be populated with information relating to a wide variety of different “points of interest.” Individual users can use the system to automatically focus on information that is likely to be interesting to the user, while ignoring information that is unlikely to be interest to the user. The position of the user can influence which “points of interest” on the database are selectively identified by the system.

Abstract: A method for inferring Indicated Mean Effective Pressure as total transient indicated engine torque in an internal combustion engine, comprising the steps of acquiring at least one crankshaft time stamp for use in determining a cylinder-specific engine velocity; calculating an incremental change in engine kinetic energy from the previously fired cylinder (j?1st) to the currently fired (jth) cylinder using the cylinder-specific engine velocity; equating the incremental change in engine kinetic energy to a change in energy-averaged cylinder torque (IMEP) from the previously-fired (j?1st) to a currently-fired (jth) cylinder; summing a plurality of the incremental changes in engine kinetic energy over time to determine a value of the transient component of indicated torque; determining a value of the quasi-steady indicated engine torque; and adding the value of transient component of indicated torque to the value of quasi-steady indicated engine torque to yield the Indicated Mean Effective Pressure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to systems for determining the position and the type of an occupant in a vehicle. More specifically, the present invention provides an occupant position and type classification system including an occupant detection module, a processor in communication with the occupant detection module, and memory accessible by the processor and storing program instructions executable by the processor to perform the steps of categorizing the occupant into one of a plurality of static categories, each of the static categories including at least one class indicative of the occupant's type or position in the vehicle, and classifying the occupant into one of the classes.

Abstract: A method of determining the volume of fuel in a vehicle fuel tank comprising the steps of determining the volume of vapor/air in the fuel tank and calculating the volume of fuel in the tank based upon the determined volume of vapor/air. The volume of vapor/air is determined by the steps of closing the fuel tank, pumping air into or out of the closed volume of the fuel tank and measuring the change in pressure in the fuel tank as a function of time during said pumping to determine the volume of vapor/air in the tank.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly and method of connecting an electrical connector to a substrate are provided. The electrical connector assembly includes a substrate having first electrical circuitry formed on a surface, an elastomer, and second electrical circuitry disposed at least partially between the substrate and the elastomer. Elements of the second electrical circuitry are pressed into contact with contact pads of the first electrical circuitry. The electrical connector assembly also includes a holder securing the elastomer in a compressed state to provide a pressure contact between the circuit elements and the contact pads.

Abstract: A gas cooler and heat exchanger assembly comprises a gas cooler, including a cylindrical inlet header and a cylindrical outlet header, and a heat exchanger, including a first tank and a second tank, with at least a portion of each of the tanks being cylindrical and being an extension of and integral with each of the associated and aligned headers. In the first embodiment, the entirety of each of the tanks is cylindrical in shape and extends from the associated header. Each of the tanks is bisected thus defining a semi-cylindrical hot chamber and a semi-cylindrical cool chamber. In the second embodiment, only the cylindrical hot chamber of each of the tanks is cylindrical in shape and extends from the associated header. An additional box-shaped structure defines a box-shaped cool chamber disposed along and inwardly of each of the cylindrical hot chambers.

Abstract: An adjustable steering column assembly includes a column jacket extending along a longitudinal axis. The column jacket includes a compression bracket mounted thereto, and is supported by a mounting bracket. A pawl engages a telescope slot defined by the compression bracket in interlocking engagement to mechanically lock the longitudinal position of the column jacket relative to the mounting bracket. A transverse cam mechanism moves the pawl generally vertically into and out of engagement with the telescope slot. An axial cam mechanism compresses the compression bracket against the mounting bracket. The transverse cam mechanism and the axial cam mechanism are operated by shaft extending along a shaft axis intersecting the column jacket. The transverse cam mechanism and the axial cam mechanism each include first and second cam mechanism disposed on opposing sides of the column jacket and simultaneously operable by a lever.

Abstract: Electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection is provided for an integrated circuit. In an aspect, a dynamic region having doped regions is formed on an epitaxy layer and substrate, and interconnects contact the dynamic region. In an aspect, the dynamic region operates as a back-to-back SCR that snaps back in both positive and negative voltage directions. In an aspect the dynamic region operates as an SCR that snaps back in a positive voltage direction and operates as a simple diode in a negative voltage direction. In another aspect, the dynamic region operates as an SCR that snaps back in a negative voltage direction and operates as a simple diode in a positive voltage direction. ESD protection over an adjustable and wide positive and negative voltage range is provided by varying widths and positioning of various doping regions. Breakdown voltages, critical voltages and critical currents are independently controlled.

Abstract: The electromagnetic valve comprises a cylindrical housing and a solenoid having an axial hole capable of receiving one of the ends of the housing that is associated with a split ring capable of being placed in a first circular recess on the periphery of the housing for extending partially and simultaneously in a second circular recess on the inner surface of the axial hole of the hole forming a port in such a manner as to establish a connection between the housing and the solenoid and the hole forming a port. An elastically compressible intermediate ring is placed around the housing and capable of being compressed between opposing support surfaces.

Abstract: A human eye is tracked between successively produced video image frames by consecutively applied eye location techniques. First, potential eye candidates within a local search window are identified using horizontal projection filtering, coupled with rudimentary appearance-based testing. The identified eye candidates are clustered and subjected to additional appearance-based testing to determine if one or more eye candidates should be accepted. If no eye candidates are accepted, a correlation/appearance technique is applied to the search window to identify the eye. If unsuccessful, the eye may be closed, and peripheral eye-related patches from the previous image frame are extracted and compared with the search window to identify the eye in the current frame. When comparable eye-related patches are identified in the search window for the current frame, the eye center is computed according to the mean of the eye periphery patches.

Abstract: An inflatable cushion for a side of a vehicle, the inflatable cushion, comprising: a primary cushion chamber inflatable to a first position, the primary cushion chamber having an upper edge portion, a lower edge portion, a first end portion and a second end portion; and a secondary cushion chamber inflatable to a second position, the secondary cushion chamber having a first section and a second section, the first section extending between the upper edge portion and the lower edge portion and the second section extending from the first section towards either the first end portion or the second end portion or towards both the first end portion or the second end portion and a portion of the second section being located below the lower edge portion when the secondary cushion chamber is in the second position.