Abstract: A method for generating an active damping torque signal for a vehicle steering system includes receiving a vehicle speed input, receiving a handwheel velocity input, receiving a handwheel torque input, and generating an active damping torque output from each of the inputs, wherein the active damping torque output is non-linear with respect to the handwheel velocity input.

Abstract: A method includes receiving current location and heading information, receiving threshold range, and bearing values, receiving an incident report corresponding to a traffic incident at a location of interest, and selectively retaining the incident report if the point of interest is within the threshold range and bearing values.

Abstract: A multifunction six-way switch assembly having a plurality of sealed dome type or membrane switches disposed on a circuit board and arranged in pairs such that a single knob actuator may be slidably moved in opposite directions along a first axis for actuating either one of a first pair of membrane switches and slidably moved in opposite directions along a second perpendicular axis for actuating either one of a second and third pair of membrane switches in the same direction for controlling seat adjustment servomotors. Rotation of the single-knob actuator about a third axis normal to the first two axes results in a mutually opposite direction of actuation of the second and third pair of membrane switches. The six-way actuator has only one portion extending externally of the switch housing for attachment of the user knob.

Abstract: A system for measuring stress including a coilless sensor including at least one band of electrically conductive and magnetostrictive material, the band having a first end and a second end defining a gap therebetween, a measuring circuit electrically connected to the first and second ends of the coilless sensor, the measuring circuit being configured to pass a current through the coilless sensor and measure at least one of an inductance, a resistance and an impedance of the coilless sensor in response to the current, and a processor in electrical communication with the measuring circuit, the processor being configured to calculate an amount of stress being applied to the coilless sensor based upon the measured inductance, resistance and impedance.

Abstract: A heat exchanger assembly is provided including a primary housing having a plurality of primary condensing fingers extending upwardly from and perpendicular to a horizontal axis and disposed circumferentially about a primary axis. A tube extends radially from the primary axis along the horizontal axis toward a remote housing including remote condensing fingers extending downwardly from and perpendicular to the horizontal axis. The remote condensing fingers are disposed circumferentially about a remote axis extending vertically through the remote housing. The tube interconnects the primary housing and the remote housing and is flexible to facilitate movement of the housings relative to one another.

Abstract: An HVAC controller housing including a plurality of valves extending therein for directing airflow to a plurality of ducts is provided. The housing is of the type including a side port extending outwardly from the housing and in fluid communication with one of the ducts. A drive gear is provided on the housing to drive a plurality of driven gears disposed on the housing for driving the plurality of valves. The driven gears are responsive to the drive gear through a transmission member comprising an annular idling gear in meshing engagement with the drive gears and at least one of the driven gears. The annular idling gear is rotatably supported on the housing and encircles the side port for efficient torque transfer between the drive gear and the driven gears.

Abstract: A fuel injector for use in an internal combustion engine includes a valve needle which is engageable with a valve needle seat to control fuel injection through an injector outlet. An actuator, typically in the form of a piezoelectric actuator stack, is arranged to control fuel pressure within a control chamber and a surface associated with the valve needle is exposed to fuel pressure within the control chamber. A load transmitter, preferably in the form of a motion inverter, transmits movement of the actuator to the valve needle. The load transmitter includes a bellows arrangement which is compressible and expandable in response to said actuator movement so as to vary fuel pressure within the control chamber, thereby to control movement of the valve needle relative to the valve needle seat. A piezoelectrically operable injector is operable in an energize-to-inject mode to provide efficient opening of the valve needle and to enable rapid closure of the valve needle.

Abstract: A telescoping steering column assembly includes upper and lower jackets having inner and outer surfaces and telescoping ends, respectively, and two sleeves disposed therebetween and having an annular cavity defined within each of the sleeves to hold bearings therewithin. One bearing is connected to the outer jacket and the other bearing is connected to the inner jacket. A method of making the assembly includes the steps of disposing the inner jacket within the outer jacket followed by disposing the sleeves therebetween and injecting a plastic material therethrough to form bearings. The plastic material is extracted from one of the apertures in each of the jackets to provide a sliding engagement between one of the bearing and the inner jacket and another bearing and the outer jacket.

Abstract: An apparatus for the cutting of an electrical conductor has an electrical conductor arranged in a housing, a pyrotechnic drive and a cutting device. After the triggering of the drive, the cutting device enters into engagement with the conductor to cut it.

Abstract: The invention provides a steering column assembly having a steering column jacket operable to support a steering shaft. The steering column assembly also includes a collar presenting a surface for guiding movement of the steering column jacket. The steering column assembly also includes a locking member operable to move in a first direction from an unlocked position to a locked position to increasingly urge the steering column jacket and the surface of the collar together to lock relative movement between the steering column jacket and the collar. The steering column assembly also includes a shaft operable to rotate in a first angular direction about a first axis to move the locking member in the first direction. The steering column assembly also includes a crank extending radially outwardly from the shaft. The steering column assembly also includes a lever operable to rotate in a second angular direction about a second axis spaced from the first axis.

Abstract: Systems and methods and computer products for drowsy driver detection and response. Exemplary embodiments include systems and methods and computer products for determining that a vehicle has engaged in a lane violation, determining a severity of the lane violation, determining a drowsy driver condition of the vehicle and responding to the drowsy driver condition via onboard warning, corrective actuation, or remote human interventions.

Abstract: A steering column assembly includes a column jacket longitudinally collapsible along a longitudinal axis. A release module is releasably coupled to the column jacket and attaches the column jacket to the vehicle at a connection point laterally offset from a first position along the longitudinal axis. An energy absorption system includes a strap attached to the column jacket at an attachment point latterly offset from a second position along the longitudinal axis and a deformation device disposed on the release module. The deformation device is laterally offset from a third position along the longitudinal axis disposed between the first position and the second position.

Abstract: A fuel pump for use in an internal combustion engine comprises a pump housing provided with a plunger bore, a pumping plunger which is movable within the plunger bore by means of a cam drive arrangement to perform a pumping stroke to pressurise fuel within a pumping chamber and a cam follower arrangement interposed between the cam drive arrangement and the pumping plunger so as to transmit a drive force of the drive arrangement to the pumping plunger. The cam follower arrangement includes a timing advance piston for advancing or retarding the timing of the pumping stroke, and control means for controlling the timing advance piston so as to advance or retard the timing of the pumping stroke. The timing advance piston is provided with a groove on its outer surface for receiving fluid, thereby to provide a centralising force to the timing advance piston, in use.

Abstract: A method for controlling a piezoelectric actuator of a fuel injector for controlling the quantity of fuel injected into the cylinders of an internal combustion engine controls the voltage across the injector in accordance with a voltage/charge vs. time profile in which the injector is driven at high current up to a level required to start injection, and then at lower current, resulting in a lower voltage/charge vs. time gradient, until the point where full charge is achieved. This results in a reduced variation in minimum delivery pulse and a reduction in the slope of the gain curve, as compared with conventional arrangements in which the voltage/charge vs. time gradient is constant. Alternatively, the injector may be driven at high current up to the charge level required to switch to hydraulic lift amplification. Any point of current change between these extremes may also be used with good effect.

Abstract: In producing an integrated sensor, regions of silicon between compensating electronics and a sensor are electrically isolated, while the sensor is delineating and released. The described process can be performed at the end of a fabrication process after electronics processing (i.e., CMOS processing) and compensating electronics are formed. In an aspect, the sensor and a conductive bridge are simultaneously developed from a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate. In an aspect, the sensor is undercut from a silicon substrate utilizing a lateral etch. A cavity is concurrently defined by the same lateral etch in the silicon layer, forming the conductive bridge connecting the sensor to a logic component. An isolation trench is defined in the silicon layer between the sensor components and the logic component. A polymer masks vertical surfaces from the lateral etch, and an insulator layer and photosensitive film mask horizontal surfaces from the lateral etch.

Abstract: A heat dissipation element for cooling an electronic device is disclosed. The heat dissipation element has a top surface and a bottom surface for mounting the electronic device to be cooled thereto. The top surface defines a heat dissipation area for dissipating heat from the electronic device and a plurality of heat transfer fins project upwardly from the top surface and are coextensive with the heat dissipation area. Each of the heat transfer fins defines a plurality of steps having a rise and a run and each of the steps extend across the heat dissipation area for maximizing an amount of heat dissipated from the electronic device. The heat dissipation element is particularly useful in either one of a cold plate assembly used with a liquid cooled unit (LCU) or a boiler plate assembly used with a thermosiphon cooling unit (TCU).

Abstract: A method of making an electronic assembly comprising an electronic component that is attached to a circuit board by protruding solder bumps of the electronic component places the electronic component on a surface of the circuit board so that solder bumps on the bottom of the electronic component engage contact pads on the top of the circuit board. The solder bumps are then reflowed to attach the electronic component to the circuit board after which the electronic component is underfilled by providing a mold die having a mold cavity, a gate leading into the mold cavity and a vent leading out of the mold cavity. The mold die is placed over the electronic component and onto the surface of the circuit board so that the electronic component is inside the mold cavity and the mold cavity is sealed.

Abstract: A vehicle rollover sensing apparatus and method are provided for predicting a future roll angle and an overturn condition of a vehicle. The apparatus includes an angular accelerometer for sensing angular acceleration of the vehicle and producing an output signal indicative thereof. A first integrator integrates the sensed angular acceleration signal and produces an angular rate. A second integrator integrates the angular rate and generates a current roll angle. A predictor predicts a future roll angle as a function of the sensed angular acceleration, angular rate, and current roll angle. A comparator compares the predicted future roll angle to a threshold value. The apparatus generates a vehicle overturn condition signal based on said comparison, and signals deployment of restraint devices.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for mounting an airbag module to a vehicle, the apparatus comprising a backing plate for mounting the airbag module to the vehicle, the backing plate comprising: a plurality of elongated mounting members each being drawn from the material of the backing plate wherein the plurality of elongated mounting members are integrally formed with the backing plate and each of the plurality of elongated mounting members has a portion comprising a periphery formed from the material of the backing plate and an opening extending into the elongated mounting member, the opening defining the periphery of the plurality of elongated mounting members.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for enabling a vehicle having adaptive cruise control to reduce its speed in a turn according to the vehicle's position within the turn as well as ignoring objects detected during the turn that are not in the vehicle's path. The method of the present invention includes the steps of operating the vehicle in an adaptive cruise control mode such that the vehicle is traveling at a set speed; determining whether the vehicle is in a turn in the vehicle's path by detecting change in the vehicle's lateral acceleration; and when the vehicle is determined to be in the turn, reducing the vehicle's speed according to the vehicle's position in the turn, monitoring for objects and maintaining the vehicle's speed if an object is positioned out of the path of the vehicle.