Abstract: A key fob for keyless entry into an automobile includes a substantially rigid housing having an outer surface with a ridge or a recess. Signal transmission circuitry is disposed within the housing and is operable to transmit a signal to the automobile. A flexible shell includes a cavity in which the housing is at least partially received. A rim is engaged with the ridge or recess of the housing such that the shell is secured to the housing.

Abstract: The present invention involves a method for transmitting data having primary and secondary data. A first transmit signal is transmitted from a first communication satellite wherein the first transmit signal is produced when the transmitter modulates the primary and secondary data on a first carrier wave associated with the first communication satellite, with secondary data having a first polarity. A second transmit signal is transmitted from a second communication satellite wherein said second transmit signal is produced when the transmitter modulates the primary and secondary data on a second carrier wave associated with the second communication satellite with secondary data having a second polarity opposite the first polarity.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are fuel reformers utilizing dew point plateau process control and methods of using the same. In one embodiment the fuel reformer can comprise a mixing zone capable of receiving a fuel mixture, a reforming zone disposed downstream from the mixing zone, an exhaust zone disposed downstream from the in operable communication with the reforming zone, a temperature sensor, and a system controller connected in operable communication with the temperature sensor. The temperature sensor can be disposed in fluid communication with the exhaust zone and capable of measuring a gas temperature of the gas stream, or in fluid communication with the mixing zone and capable of measuring a mixture temperature of the fuel mixture. The system controller can be capable of adjusting an operating variable of the fuel reformer and determining a dew point plateau temperature.

Abstract: The invention provides a controller for determining the presence of faults within a fuel injection system of an engine system. The engine system comprises a first injector and at least one further injector, each injector comprising a needle control valve and a pressure control valve. The controller comprises: inputs for receiving data relating to a first engine system parameter; outputs for outputting a control function for controlling the injector valves of each of the injectors, and; a processor for controlling the control function output from the controller.

Abstract: A brake-by-wire braking system including a braking unit, an electro-hydraulic actuator in fluid communication with the braking unit by way of a first fluid path, a master cylinder in fluid communication with the braking unit by way of a second fluid path, a normally open solenoid valve operatively associated with the second fluid path, and a control unit adapted to actuate the normally open solenoid valve, wherein actuation of the normally open solenoid valve generally fluidly isolates the master cylinder from the braking unit.

Abstract: An inflation device for an airbag module, the inflation device comprising: a first chamber and a second chamber, the first chamber having a first volume of inflation gas and the second chamber having a second volume of inflation gas; a first inflation opening for allowing the first volume of inflation gas to pass therethrough and a first sealing member, the first sealing member sealing the first inflation opening; a second inflation opening for allowing the second volume of inflation gas to pass therethrough and a second sealing member, the second sealing member sealing the second inflation opening, the second inflation opening being substantially smaller than the first inflation opening; a conduit member for providing fluid communication with the first inflation opening and the second inflation opening; an initiator for removing a portion of the first sealing member from the first inflation opening; and a puncture device disposed within the conduit member, the puncture device being configured to remove a por

Abstract: A heat exchanger assembly is provided including a multi-function boiling chamber having a top wall and a bottom wall parallel to the top wall and a first side wall and a second side wall both extending inwardly from the bottom wall to the top wall and a pair of end walls closing the chamber. First and second condensing tubes attached to the first and second side walls, respectively, of the boiling chamber have an elongated width presenting an upper surface and a lower surface and extend in opposite respective directions to distal ends of the tubes at an inclined angle relative to the bottom wall of the boiling chamber. The condensing tubes include a plurality of channels across the width and extending from the boiling chamber to the distal end of the tube. A tank disposed at each of the distal ends of the condensing tubes is in fluid communication with the channels tubes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for electronic commutation of a pulse width modulation (PWM) controlled motor involves temporarily increasing the frequency of one or more PWM drive signals applied to the motor upon the occurrence of an asynchronous commutation event.

Abstract: A magnetic actuator, comprising, an inner ring, an outer ring disposed around the inner ring, a first pair of inner teeth disposed on the inner ring that partially define a gap between the first pair of inner teeth having a first angular dimension, a second pair of inner teeth disposed on the inner ring that partially define a gap between the second pair of inner teeth having a second angular dimension, a first pair of outer teeth disposed on the outer ring that partially define a gap between the first pair of outer teeth having a third angular dimension and a second pair of outer teeth disposed on the outer ring that partially define a gap between the second pair of outer teeth having a fourth angular dimension.

Abstract: The invention provides a boot for a universal joint. The boot includes a first sleeve portion defining a first circular opening. The boot also includes a second sleeve portion spaced from the first sleeve portion along a boot axis. The second sleeve portion defines a second circular opening having a smaller diameter than the first circular opening. The boot also includes a plurality of convolutions defined along the boot axis between the first sleeve portion and the second sleeve portion by a plurality of roots extending radially inward toward the boot axis and by a plurality of crests extending radially outward away from the boot axis. The plurality of roots includes a first root and a second root immediately adjacent to one another. The first root is closer to the first sleeve portion than the second root. The first root extends radially further toward the boot axis than the second root.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a steering wheel arrangement for motor vehicles having a steering wheel, an airbag module held at the steering wheel and movable in the direction of the axis of the steering wheel, and an electrical contact system arranged between the steering wheel and the airbag module for the actuation of an electrical functional unit, in particular of a vehicle horn by a relative movement between the steering wheel and the air-bag module taking place in the direction of the steering wheel axis, where-in the contact system includes elongate extended electrical conductors which are attached to mutually confronting sides of the steering wheel and of the airbag module or only to the steering wheel or to the airbag module and extend in such a way that conductors spaced apart in the direction of the steering wheel axis cross at least one contact position.

Abstract: A system and method for enhancing the contrast within an image. An enhanced image can be generated in a real-time or substantially real-time manner from an initial image. A low-contrast image is enhanced, including the visibility of text within the low-contrast image. A logarithm transform method is used to enhance the overall contrast and visibility within the image. A power transform method is used to enhance the visibility and contrast of written text, symbols and other forms of signs within the enhanced image.

Abstract: A motor vehicle exhaust aftertreatment system includes an exhaust conduit that includes a NOx adsorber, a particulate filter, a reformer for generating reformate containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide from a fuel source, a reformate conduit, and an oxygen sensor. In response to a pressure drop through the particulate filter attaining a threshold value, reformate is introduced under selected controlled flow conditions into the exhaust conduit and caused to undergo combustion. The resulting exotherm maintains the temperature within the particulate filter within a selected range that is effective to cause oxidation and removal of soot from the particulate filter. Introduction of reformate into the exhaust conduit is discontinued when the pressure drop through the particulate filter is decreased to a selected value.

Abstract: A steering column switch, especially for a motor vehicle, contains a switch lever, which is activated transversely and which has a magnetic signal transmitter, to which several stationary magnetic-field sensors coupled to an evaluation unit are allocated for determining the switch positions of the switch lever. The switch lever supports a rotary switch and the signal transmitter and also the magnetic-field sensors are used for determining the switch positions of the rotary switch.

Abstract: An electrical connection system comprises a connector shell and a plurality of wafer connectors that plug into the connector shell. Each wafer connector holds a plurality of electric terminals that are attached to ends of electric cables, and a lock bar that is attached to the connector shell to retain the wafer connectors in the connector shell. The connector shell has an upper wall, a lower wall and side walls that are spaced apart to define a stack of wafer connector compartments that extends from the upper wall to the lower wall, an uppermost compartment being defined in part by the upper wall and an lowermost compartment being defined in part by the lower wall. The side walls each have slots in their confronting surfaces for each compartment in the stack of wafer connector compartments for locating a wafer connector in each compartment, the slots being longitudinal and open ended so that a wafer connector can be inserted longitudinally into each compartment from an insertion end of the shell.

Abstract: The invention provides a method including the steps of fixedly securing a brake rotor with a first rotatable fixture. The brake rotor includes a hat and a pair of plates, an inboard plate and an outboard plate. The method also includes the step of rough-cutting a plurality of surfaces of the brake rotor while the brake rotor is fixedly secured to the first rotatable fixture. The rough-cutting operations can be performed with one or more cutting tools. The method also includes the step of finishing the plurality of surfaces while the brake rotor is fixedly secured to the first rotatable fixture. The brake rotor can be completely processed, with respect to cutting operations at least, at a single workstation while supported by a single rotatable fixture.

Abstract: The invention provides an air filter assembly including an air filter extending along a central axis from a first end to a second end. The air filter decreases in width along the central axis from the first end to the second end. The air filter assembly also includes a filter housing partially enclosing the air filter and defining an aperture adjacent to the second end. One or more airstreams can be directed through the aperture to the air filter. The air filter assembly also includes at least one valve member rotatable about a rotation axis. The valve member pivots around the second end to block at least a portion of the aperture.

Abstract: An electrical connector arrangement for a piezoelectric actuator (10) having a stack (26) of one or more piezoelectric elements, the electrical connector arrangement including positive and negative terminals (30, 32) for connection with distribution electrodes (44a, 44b) of the piezoelectric stack (26). Each of the positive and negative terminals (30, 32) has a lower end face (30d, 32d) which locates adjacent to an upper end face of the stack (26), in use, and a radially outer contact face (30e, 32e) for contact with the distribution electrodes (44a, 44b). The terminals (30, 32) also connect with an external voltage supply, in use. A block (30c, 32c) of each terminal (30, 32) defines the radially outer contact face (30e, 32e) for the stack distribution electrodes (44a, 44b) and thus provides a robust terminal structure.

Abstract: A motor control circuit for supplying power to a DC motor which drives a mechanism having a driven shaft, the control circuit having a parallel combination of a capacitor and switch in series with the DC motor. When the movement of the driven shaft is obstructed, the motor driver and the switch are synchronized in a manner to first charge the capacitor and then to reverse the voltage generated by the motor driver to momentarily double the voltage applied to the DC motor so that the increased torque of the DC motor is able to overcome the obstruction. The mechanism having a shaft driven by the DC motor may be, for example, an ETC valve or a window regulator.

Abstract: The invention includes a steering column assembly positionable in a vehicle. The invention also includes a connecting device releaseably attachable to the vehicle. The connecting device is moveable between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration to selectively lock the steering column assembly with respect to the vehicle. The invention also includes a first energy absorber disposed between the connecting device and the steering column assembly. The first energy absorber is selectively engageable to dissipate energy. For example, the first energy absorber is engaged to dissipate energy in response to relative movement between the connecting device and the steering column assembly when the connecting device is in the locked configuration. The first energy absorber is disengaged with respect to dissipating energy in response to relative movement between the connecting device and the steering column assembly when the connecting device is in the unlocked configuration.