Abstract: The face of a human subject is alternately illuminated by first and second sources of active illumination disposed above and below a video camera that captures images of the subject's face. Glare due to reflection of the active illumination from eyeglasses worn by the subject shifts up or down from one image to the next due to the different locations of the first and second sources. Eye detection and tracking routines ignore images in which the eye is occluded by eyeglass glare so that the glare does not interfere with the performance of the routines.

Abstract: A variable displacement compressor with a compensated suction shutoff valve (SSV). The SSV prevents noise generated by a suction reed valve at low refrigerant flow rates in an internal suction region from propagating to an air conditioner evaporator by moving a piston to obstruct an opening and restrict fluid communication. The degree of restriction is decreased by an opening force generated by refrigerant at an external suction pressure acting over a first area, and increased by refrigerant at a crankcase pressure acting over a second area. The second area is smaller than the first area so that at high refrigerant flow rates, the effect of crankcase pressure is reduced so that the restriction is reduced and the compressor operates at greater efficiency. The piston position is also influenced by refrigerant at a pressure intermediate the external suction pressure and the internal suction pressure acting over a third area.

Abstract: An adjustable steering column assembly having a column jacket defining a longitudinal axis and moveable in at least one of a telescoping direction and a tilting direction is disclosed. A bracket is coupled to the column jacket with at least one pivot shaft coupled to the bracket along a pivot axis. A lever is mounted to the pivot shaft and rotates between a set position for preventing movement of the column jacket and an adjustable position for allowing movement of the column jacket. A locking device engages the lever and moves between a locked position and an unlocked position in response to rotation of the lever between the set and adjustable positions, respectively. A restrictor encircles the bracket, the column jacket, the lever and the locking device for resisting against an outwardly radial force produced by the locking device when in the locked position.

Abstract: A clip for securing a sleeve to the body of a piezoelectric actuator in an actuator assembly, the clip taking the form of a band comprising first and second axially spaced ring-like members joined by a plurality of inwardly facing substantially arch shaped sections, the arch shaped sections defining the minimum inner diameter of the band, whereby axial displacement of the ring-like members way from one another causes flexing of the arch shaped sections to increase the minimum inner diameter of the band while axial displacement of the ring-like members towards one another causes flexing of the arch shaped sections to reduce the minimum inner diameter of the band thereby, when in use, to increase a clamping force applied to the sleeve.

Abstract: An electrical center is mounted on a wiring harness. The electrical center comprises an upper insulator housing having a plurality of upper terminal receiving cavities, a circuit board assembly disposed in the upper housing below the upper terminal receiving cavities, a plurality of terminals mounted on the circuit board contact portions above the circuit board disposed in the upper terminal receiving cavities for engaging mating terminals plugged into the upper terminal receiving cavities, and a lower insulator housing having a plurality of lower terminal receiving cavities. The terminals mounted on the circuit board have contact portions below the circuit board disposed in the lower terminal receiving cavities for engaging mating terminals that are attached to wires of the wiring harness and that are plugged in the lower terminal receiving cavities.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a controller, a touch screen display in communication with the controller, and a plurality of accessories in communication with the controller. The various accessories are each individually controlled by inputting commands into the touch screen display. The controller transmits the inputted command via a communication system to the selected accessory to motivate the accessory between a first setting and a second setting.

Abstract: A steering column assembly includes a column jacket and a rake bracket for mounting the column jacket to a vehicle. A bearing rotatably supports an output shaft within an interior of the column jacket and is in sliding engagement with the column jacket during telescopic adjustment of the column jacket along a longitudinal axis. The column jacket defines a telescope slot near a lower end of the column jacket. A fastener is coupled to the rake bracket and extends through the telescope slot into engagement with the bearing to define tilt axis for pivotal movement of the column jacket relative to the rake bracket.

Abstract: The invention provides a lever assembly for controlling a lock of a steering column assembly. The lever assembly includes a first lever portion pivotable about a locking axis between a locked position for substantially preventing adjusting movement of a steering column assembly and an unlocked position spaced from the locked position. The steering column assembly is moveable in adjusting movement when the first lever portion is in the unlocked position. The lever assembly also includes a second lever portion defining a handle portion and operable to rotate about the locking axis. The lever assembly also includes a lost motion linkage disposed between the first lever portion and the second lever portion. The lost motion linkage is operable to transmit rotation of the second lever portion about the locking axis to pivot the first lever portion between the locked position and the unlocked position.

Abstract: A metal alloy which when oxidized forms a highly conductive surface oxide layer. Alloy compositions such as, but not limited to, Ti—Nb, Ti—Ta, La—Sr—Cr, and La—Sr—Co are known to form oxide passivation layers which are highly conductive. Such alloys are useful in electrical contact apparatus. An electrical contact element formed of the alloy has a contact surface which when oxidized forms a highly conductive surface layer, thus maintaining electrical conductivity and continuity through the element. The oxide layer may be formed in situ after assembly of the electrical contact or may be provided in an oxidative step during manufacture. The electrical contact may be formed entirely of one or more of such alloys; or may be formed of an inexpensive substrate base metal, such as steel, having one or more of the alloys coated thereupon; or may be formed of a mixture of the base metal and the alloy.

Abstract: A circuit board assembly that makes use of a low-temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) substrate, and a process for producing the assembly. The substrate contains at least first and second regions formed by a plurality of first ceramic layers and at least one second ceramic layer, respectively, that are superimposed and bonded to each other. Conductor lines are present on at least some of the first ceramic layers so as to be between adjacent pairs of the layers. Electrically-conductive vias electrically interconnect the conductor lines on different first ceramic layers, and a surface-mount IC device is mounted to the substrate. The first ceramic layers are formed of electrically-nonconductive materials, while the one or more second ceramic layers contain thermally-conductive particles dispersed in a matrix of electrically-nonconductive materials, such that the one or more second ceramic layers are more thermally conductive than the first ceramic layers.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for checking and/or calibrating a passenger recognition device arranged in a vehicle seat, in the case of which device a child's seat can be pressed against a vehicle seat and in the case of which method a vehicle seat is loaded with a child's seat and a corresponding reaction from the passenger recognition device in the vehicle seat is evaluated.

Abstract: An additives package for use in an MR fluid formulation is provided, as well as an MR fluid formulation containing the additives package. In one embodiment, the additives package comprises an organomolybdenum dithiocarbamate, an ashless dithiocarbamate, and a triazole compound, such as a tolutriazole compound. In another embodiment, the additives package may further include an aminic antioxidant, such as an alkylated diphenylamine. In another embodiment, the additives package is free of an organomolybdate ester. In another embodiment, the additives package consists of the organomolybdenum dithiocarbamate, the ashless dithiocarbamate, the triazole compound, and optionally the aminic antioxidant. In addition to the additives package, the magnetorheological fluid formulation comprises magnetizable particles, a carrier fluid, and a thickening agent.

Abstract: A method of operating an injector having an injector valve needle and a piezoelectric actuator for controlling movement of the injector valve needle, the method comprising reducing the voltage across the actuator at a first rate (RT1) in order to initiate an initial injection, increasing the voltage across the actuator in order to terminate the injection, and once the initial injection has terminated and before a subsequent injection is initiated, reducing the voltage across the actuator at a second rate (RT2; RT3), which is lower than the first rate (RT1), so as to de-energise the actuator but without initiating an injection. The invention ensures the injector spends a significantly reduced period of its life with a high voltage across its actuator.

Abstract: A steering column assembly is moveable in a rake direction and a telescope direction and extends along a longitudinal axis. The assembly includes a compression bracket mounted to a column jacket. A rake bracket is disposed over the compression bracket. The rake bracket defines a rake slot and includes a rake tooth rack disposed in the rake slot. The compression bracket defines a telescoping slot and includes a telescope tooth rack disposed in the telescope slot. A telescoping lock is disposed within the telescoping slot. A rake lock is disposed within the rake slot. A cam mechanism moves the rake lock into interlocking engagement with the rake tooth rack and moves the telescope lock into interlocking engagement with the telescope tooth rack when in the lock position, and disengages the rake lock from the rake tooth rack and the telescope lock from the telescope tooth rack when in the adjustment position.

Abstract: Described is a method of reducing corrosion of a silver-containing surface comprising electro-depositing a layer of an iodine-containing material on the silver-containing surface at a charge density of about 80 mA*s (milliamps second)/cm2 or less. Also described is an electrical contact also produced by the method.

Abstract: A steering column assembly for a motor vehicle includes a steering shaft, a support bracket rotatably receiving the steering shaft for rotatably supporting the steering shaft on the motor vehicle, and an anti-rotation device. The anti-rotation device is supported by the support bracket and is moveable between an engaged position and a disengaged position. In the engaged position, the anti-rotation device prevents rotation of the steering shaft relative to the support bracket. The anti-rotation device may be moved from the engaged position to the disengaged position to allow rotation of the steering shaft relative to the support bracket. Prior to assembly of the steering column assembly to the motor vehicle, the anti-rotation device may be moved to the engaged position to lock the steering column in a common rotational position. After assembly, the anti-rotation device may be moved to the disengaged position to allow rotation of the steering shaft.

Abstract: A method and system for estimating a parameter of an electric machine, including a controller and a switching device, the controller responsive to at least one of: a current sensor, and a temperature sensor. Where the controller executes a parameter estimation process, which is responsive to at least one of: a current value and a temperature estimate and the resultant of the parameter estimation process representing an estimated parameter of the electric machine. The parameter estimation includes a method for estimating a temperature of the electric machine comprising: the temperature sensor operatively connected to and transmitting a temperature signal corresponding to a measured temperature to a controller, which executes the temperature estimation process responsive to a temperature signal from the temperature sensor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a an actuation unit having a triggering device for the moving of a headrest into a predetermined position, with the triggering device comprising a pyrotechnic gas generator and a triggering member which is movable from a blocking position into a release position.

Abstract: A bipolar plate for use in a stack of fuel cell modules includes a bipolar plate that has at least one surface containing a metal alloy oxidizable to form a metal oxide having a surface resistance no greater than about 0.007 ohm-cm2. The metal alloy is oxidized to form a layer of metal oxide having a thickness of about 10?8 cm to about 10?2 cm and a resistivity no greater than about 107 ohm-cm. In addition to their use in fuel cells, the alloys can be employed to form conductive surfaces of electrical contacts useful for various electrical devices.

Abstract: A fuel injection system for an internal combustion engine, comprises: a pump comprising a pumping plunger which is driven, in use, to cause pressurization of fuel within a pump chamber, an accumulator volume for supplying fuel to a fuel injector, a fuel passage providing fluid communication between the pump chamber and the accumulator volume, and an inlet control valve operable to control fuel flow into the pump chamber from a low pressure reservoir; wherein the inlet control valve is a latching inlet valve. The fuel injection system may be a hybrid fuel injection system, having a rail valve located in the fuel passage between the pump chamber and the accumulator volume. The latching inlet valve may be a two-way electronic latching poppet valve, and the rail valve may be a non-return valve. A method of operating such a fuel injection system for an internal combustion engine is also described.