Abstract: An absolute position sensor having a low power mode includes a sensing device for sensing position of an object such as a power door, a power input for inputting power to the sensing device, and an output for supplying an output signal indicative of the sensed position. The sensor also includes a controller that receives the output signal and controls power supplied to the power input. The controller determines when the output signal does not change by a predetermined amount and controls the power input to reduce power when the output signal does not change by the predetermined amount. The controller further reapplies continuous full power to the power input when the output signal changes by the predetermined amount.

Abstract: An electrical plug connector includes a housing having at least one receiver for an electrical contact, a second latching element which can be moved with respect to the housing from a pre-assembly position, in which the electrical contact can be inserted into the receiver, into an end position, in which the contact is secured in the receiver by the second latching arrangement, and a seal mounted on a spigot-like housing section. Considered in the plug-in direction, guide ribs for the seal are provided between the region of the spigot-like housing section designed to receive the seal and the second latching element adopting its pre-assembly position in order also to support the seal in the intermediate region in the event of a possible shift in the direction of the second latching element.

Abstract: A method for virtual machining and inspection of a three-dimensional virtual workpiece representative of an actual workpiece comprising: creating a three-dimensional tool model; defining a tool path through the virtual workpiece; creating a plurality of two-dimensional slices from the three-dimensional tool model; and passing each of said plurality of two-dimensional slices along the tool path and through the virtual workpiece; wherein material from the virtual workpiece coming into contact with each of said plurality of two-dimensional slices passed there through is subtracted from the virtual workpiece; and conducting a virtual inspection of the virtual work piece.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling fuel delivery through a fuel injection system to an internal combustion engine is described. An engine controller calculates a mass of fuel for delivery to one of the cylinders through one of the fuel injectors, based upon the operation of the internal combustion engine. Gas temperature in the intake runner of the cylinder is determined, and a compensation term is selected based upon the calculated mass of fuel and the determined gas temperature in the intake runner of the cylinder. The calculated mass of fuel is adjusted using the compensation term, and the controller controls open time of the fuel injector based upon the adjusted calculated mass of fuel.

Abstract: A suspension damper including a tube and a damping piston assembly disposed within the tube and slidably mounted therein for reciprocal movement in the tube. The suspension damper also includes a piston rod extending through the tube and connected to the damping piston assembly, a rod guide assembly closing a bottom end of the tube, and a rebound cut-off disk and spring suspended in the tube between the rod guide assembly and the damping piston assembly and cooperating with the damping piston assembly to provide a rebound cut-off effect between the rebound cut-off disk and the damping piston assembly. The rebound cut-off disk and spring have specific gravities that are greater than the specific gravity of the fluid in the tube, such that the disk and the spring sink in the fluid.

Abstract: A heat exchanger having fins disposed adjacent to each other with tubes passing through the fins to interconnect the fins. Louvers are formed in each of the fins with each louver extending at an angle with respect to the fins. An upstream portion of the interconnected fins define an incoming airflow side of the heat exchanger and a downstream portion of the interconnected fins define an outgoing airflow side of the heat exchanger. The louvers define a first bank of louvers formed in each of the upstream portions of the fins facing the incoming airflow side of the heat exchanger. The louvers also define a second bank of louvers formed in each of the downstream portions of the fins facing the incoming airflow side of the heat exchanger. Hence, all of the louvers on the fins are facing the same direction for minimizing the air pressure drop, while increasing a heat transfer between the fins, tubes, and the air flow.

Abstract: An improved conventional steering wheel position sensor including a housing, a main gear, an auxiliary gear enmeshed with the main gear and a ring shield at the auxiliary gear. A ring shield wall of the ring shield has a low rise portion adjacent the main gear and a high rise portion distally therefrom. A truncated plate is connected to the high rise portion, and the auxiliary gear is bearingly mounted to an axle of the truncated plate so as to be rotatable without contacting the ring shield.

Abstract: A pump used in vehicle controlled braking systems provides a reverse direction of flow through a cylinder bore of the pump and utilizes an inlet check valve located outside of the piston at the end of the cylinder bore opposite the piston, in conjunction with an outlet check valve located in an outlet extending through a sidewall of the cylinder bore of the pump. The inlet check valve is assembled and tested as a module prior to being installed in the pump. A fluid reservoir, having a movable wall, is connected to the inlet to facilitate priming the pump module. The piston is driven by a self-supporting drive apparatus with an eccentric element affixed to a stub shaft, or by other forms of a drive apparatus having an eccentric element fixed to a motor drive shaft.

Abstract: A control assembly comprising a switch pad and a circuit board. The switch pad has a connection member, a first contact adjacent the connection member, and a flexible dome having a second contact. The circuit board is engaged with the switch pad and includes an engagement area engaged with the connection member, third contacts adjacent the engagement area and fourth contacts. The flexible dome of the switch pad is configured to be depressed to engage the second contact with the fourth contacts to electrically connect the fourth contacts. The first contact electrically connects the third contacts when the circuit board is engaged with the switch pad. The first contact and the third contacts form a first circuit for determining if the switch pad is properly engaged with the circuit board such that the second contact will form a second circuit with the fourth contacts when the flexible dome is depressed.

Abstract: A self-powered, wireless sensor assembly is provided for sensing crankshaft position of an engine comprising a rotatable flywheel having a ring gear. The sensor assembly includes an electromagnetic sensor responsive to structural features on the ring gear when the ring gear rotates. A power supply is coupled to generate a direct current in response to the output signal from the electromagnetic sensor. A transceiver is coupled to one of the following sensors: a magnetostatic sensor energized by the power supply and responsive to the structural features on the ring gear to generate an output signal when the ring gear rotates, and the electromagnetic sensor. The transceiver is configured to wirelessly transmit the output signal from that one sensor, wherein the output signal from that one sensor comprises information indicative of the instantaneous speed of said engine.

Abstract: A hermetic package of a type used to contain a sensing element, such as an infrared sensing element. The package comprises a base having a base wall and sidewalls surrounding the base wall to define a first recess within the base. The sensing element is fabricated on a device chip disposed within the first recess. A lid is hermetically sealed with the base to enclose the sensing element. The lid defines a second recess that communicates with the first recess, such that the first and second recesses define a continuous cavity between the lid and the base and in which the device chip is contained. The depth of the second recess is preferably at least about half the depth of the sensing element within the first recess, such that neither the lid nor the base are required to have a deep recess that defines essentially the entire cavity in which the device chip is contained.

Abstract: A multi-level speech recognition driven system provides user specific adaptive voice feedback based on a specific user's level of sophistication. If a voice input is detected, the system determines whether the voice input is associated with a specific user. When a user of the system has not provided a voice input for a predetermined user specific time period the system provides an adaptive voice feedback to the user. When a voice input is detected, the system determines whether the voice input is recognized. If the recognized voice input corresponds to a speech selectable task, the corresponding speech selectable task is performed. In another embodiment, the system is deactivated when a voice input has not been received for a user specific set number of predetermined user specific time periods at a given level.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring relative displacement between a first shaft and a second shaft includes first and second rotor assemblies. The first rotor assembly is coupled to the first shaft and is centered on an axis. The second rotor assembly is coupled to the second shaft. The second rotor assembly has first and second stator plates. Each of the first and second stator plates includes an upper surface and a lower surface. The upper and lower surfaces are parallel. The first and second stator plates include a plurality of teeth extending in a direction radial of the axis. The first and second stator plates form a gap between the lower surface of the first stator plate and the upper surface of the second stator plate. The apparatus further includes at least one magnet having a magnetic field and disposed on the first rotor assembly and a sensing device disposed within the gap for sensing a magnetic flux of the magnetic field.

Abstract: A multiple sensor, vehicle seat occupant status determination system uses dynamic variations in occupant responsive sensor output due to accelerations of the vehicle seat to discriminate via a statistical method between sensors that are failed and those that are operating correctly and eliminates the contribution of signals detected as not valid from the status determination. If and only if the maximum and minimum sampled signal values of at least one of the received signals span upper and lower control reference values derived from the sampled signal values, a variance value for each of the signals is derived; and one or both of the greatest two or the smallest two variance values are checked against a relative size factor to detect an outlier signal value. If an outlier signal value is detected more than a predetermined number of consecutive times, the status classification is performed without signal values from the outlier sensor.

Abstract: A tripot universal joint has a plurality of roller assemblies mounted on trunnions of a drive shaft and run in longitudinal tracks of a housing. Each roller assembly includes a roller and a needle roller bearing for rotatably mounting the roller on a roller carrier. Each needle bearing includes a plurality of needle rollers and a cage. The cage has spaced end rings that are connected by a plurality of cross bars to retain the needle rollers with respect to the roller in the axial direction, and conformations that cooperate with the roller to retain the cage with respect to the roller in the axial direction.

Abstract: An air bag assembly adapted for use in opposing relation to a vehicle occupant. The assembly includes one or more tethering elements which may be selectively released from a first restrained condition to a second restrained condition in a predefined manner so as to control the inflated profile of the air bag cushion based upon vehicle and/or occupant conditions while nonetheless maintaining tension within the tethering elements in both the first and second restrained conditions.

Abstract: A steering column assembly having a support structure, a tilt portion, and a switch module is provided. The support structure is securable to a vehicle. The tilt portion is pivotally secured to the support structure such that the tilt portion can pivot about a pivot axis through a selected range of motion with respect to the support structure. A first electrical connecting member is disposed on the tilt portion proximate the pivot axis. The switch module has a second electrical connecting member connected to the first electrical connecting member such that the switch module in electrical communication with a wiring harness.

Abstract: A light distribution apparatus includes a light distribution hub and at least one light source a reference light wavelength emission. The light distribution hub includes color converter that is enclosed in a light house and converts the reference light wavelength emission to a converted light emission. The color converter is distributed through an aperture in the light house.

Abstract: A method for throttle progression control to minimize tip-in noise of an internal combustion engine by allowing the engine to receive only the required air for the commanded engine acceleration. The method comprises the steps of a) providing an electronically controlled throttle body and valve, b) providing an electronic control module, c) determining the engine air flow required to satisfy a desired engine acceleration, d) providing an input to the electronic control module corresponding to the engine air flow required, e) programming the electronic control module to limit the inflow of air during engine acceleration to match the engine air flow required for achieving said desired engine acceleration, and f) actuating the throttle body and valve to provide the limited air flow through the throttle body during the desired engine acceleration.

Abstract: A pyroelectric sensor having an active regulation for maximizing pyroelectric sensor sensitivity is disclosed. The pyroelectric sensor comprises a ferroelectric transducer, and a regulator. The ferroelectric transducer may either be a homogenous ferroelectric transducer, a compositionally graded ferroelectric transducer, or an externally graded ferroelectric transducer. The regulator may either be an excitation regulator or a temperature regulator. A method for regulating the excitation or the temperature of a pyroelectric sensor for maximizing sensitivity of the pyroelectric sensor is also disclosed.