Abstract: An air bag restraint system and control system for controlling an air bag in a vehicle and compensating for ambient temperature variations. The control system includes a temperature sensor for sensing temperature of an air bag device, and an air bag controller for controlling actuation of an air bag. The controller controls restraining force produced by the air bag as a function of the sensed temperature. Accordingly, the air bag compensates to changes in temperature so as to optimize the air bag performance.

Abstract: In a solid-oxide fuel cell system, the fuel cell tail gas contains significant residual amounts of combustibles which are burned in a combustor with spent cathode air to reduce system emissions and to reclaim chemical energy in the form of heat, the hot exhaust being used to pre-heat air entering the fuel cell system. The tail gas combustibles content can vary widely as can the combustion temperature. When the temperature becomes unacceptably low, a control valve in the spent cathode air return is adjusted to divert a portion of the air around the combustor, thus enriching the fuel/air mixture and causing the combustion temperature to increase. When the temperature becomes unacceptably high, a control valve in the combustor fresh air supply is adjusted to provide more air, thus causing the mixture to become leaner and the combustion temperature to decrease.

Abstract: A method for generating multiple high-resolution PWM signals in which software interrupts are introduced at predetermined intervals to generate multiple high-resolution PWM signals from a conventional microprocessor. The software determines the purpose of the interrupt in an interrupt subroutine. An interrupt occurs when a compare register equals the timer. Another interrupt occurs when the timer overflows. The interrupts are the key to generating the multiple high-resolution PWM signals.

Abstract: An elastomeric seat bladder for a vehicle occupant weight estimation system includes a plurality of elastomeric tethers defined by bands or sheets of elastomeric material coupling upper and lower layers of the bladder within a peripheral weld in order to reduce fluid pooling and distention or bulging of the bladder due to localized loading. The elastomeric tethers are spot or seam welded to upper and lower sheets of the bladder; they extend to limit distension where required, and otherwise partially or fully collapse to minimize vertical shunting of occupant weight through the bladder.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to electrical contacts that comprise spaced electrically conductive particles embedded and bonded into the surface of conductors in which the particles have been kinetically sprayed onto the conductors with sufficient energy to form direct mechanical bonds between the particles and the conductors in a pre-selected location and particle number density that promotes high surface-to-surface contact and reduced contact resistance between the conductors.

Abstract: The invention relates to a steering column module for a motor vehicle, comprising a steering angle sensor (13) that is inserted into a module housing (1,2). The rotor of the steering angle sensor is assigned to a steering column and co-operates with at least one fixed measuring wheel (37), in which angular modifications of the steering column are registered by electronic measuring sensors (22), operating as the stator and connected to the vehicle electric system by means of a central printed circuit board (6). The measuring sensors (22) are fastened to the printed circuit board (6) and the measuring wheel or wheels (37) is/are mounted in a housing (38) that is fixed to the printed circuit board (6).

Abstract: A planar microstrip antenna includes one or more aperture-fed circular patch radiating elements capacitively coupled to respective parasitic strip elements. The circular patches are symmetrically disposed above respective ground plane apertures, and the parasitic strip elements are annular sectors that are co-planar and concentric with the circular patches, and placed adjacent to the periphery of each circular patch. The disclosed geometry enhances the input impedance bandwidth, and significantly reduces off-boresight radiation variability to provide beam directivity that is more uniform over both frequency and direction.

Abstract: The gear mechanism for minimizing backlash may include a convoluted spring positioned between an external spline of a gear or shaft and an internal spline of a gear. The gear mechanism may include a cam and cam follower arrangement upon two adjacent gears positioned on the same shaft. Two stacked gears may include a U-shaped backlash eliminating element passing through both gears. The gear mechanism may include rollers which may be conically shaped.

Abstract: An improved filter assembly for a solenoid-actuated fuel injector having a fuel-resistant porous filter element in a filter retainer tube for disposition in the fuel tube of the fuel injector. Fuel flow through the filter element is axial. The filter retainer tube replaces the calibration tube in a prior art fuel injector, also acting as a seat for the injector spring and being positioned axially within the fuel tube by a press-fit calibration ring. The retainer tube is preferably formed of glass-filled nylon, and the filter element is preferably formed by injection molding of an open-cell polyamide foam. By selecting the porosity and flow characteristics of the filter element material in known fashion, the length and diameter of the filter element may be minimized, permitting reduction in the length and diameter of the fuel tube and also the size and cost of the actuating solenoid assembly.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for increasing the convective heat transfer capabilities of a liquid cooler coupled to various system and vehicle components. The apparatus includes a structure placed within a hollow tubing of the liquid cooler to distort the laminar flow of fluid within a center portion of the hollow tubing, which decreases the temperature rise of the fluid along an outer wall of the hollow tubing associated with laminar flow. In preferred embodiments, the structure has an elongated baffle wire or an extruded elongated ridge member. The structure allows the outer surface of the tubing to have increased cooling at a particular liquid flow rate. As a result, there is an increase in heat transfer capability to a coupled system or vehicle component.

Abstract: A torque-based occupant weight estimation apparatus for a vehicle seat includes front and rear torsion bars through which the seat frame is coupled to a set of floor brackets. The torsion bars are rotatably mounted on the floor brackets, and linkage arms rigidly coupled to opposing ends of each torsion bar are rotatably coupled to the seat frame so as to convert occupant seat weight into torsion bar torque. Torque sensors coupled to the torsion bars provide an indication of occupant weight.

Abstract: An antenna system is assembled to a dielectric medium on a vehicle and is spaced from an electrically conductive member so as to allow for enhanced antenna performance. The dielectric medium has first and second surfaces and a dielectric thickness between the first and second surfaces. An antenna is mounted to the first surface of the dielectric medium for receiving and/or transmitting signals. An electrically conductive member is mounted to the second surface of the dielectric medium for providing a floating ground that forms a capacitive coupling with the antenna. The electrically conductive member is dielectrically isolated from vehicle electrical ground.

Abstract: A capacitive load cell apparatus includes upper and lower capacitor plates and an intermediate dielectric in the form of a synthetic knit spacer material having upper and lower fabric layers interconnected by an array of deflectable synthetic fibers. When occupant weight is applied to the seat, the synthetic fibers deflect to locally reduce the separation between the upper and lower capacitor plates, and the consequent change in capacitance is detected as a measure of the applied weight. The load cell or just the dielectric may be encased in a polymeric sheath to prevent intrusion of foreign matter, and a fluid such as silicone may be dispersed in woven dielectric.

Abstract: In a linear position encoder, a support is provided upon which a pair of phase quadrature windings are mounted. The windings are arranged to have a sinusoidal magnetic sensitivity characteristic along the length of the support. Mounted on a movable element there is a resonant circuit including a coil and capacitor that can magnetically couple with the windings. When the circuit is excited, it induces currents in the windings that are dependent upon the position of the circuit within a period Ts of the windings. An excitation and processing unit is provided to energize the circuit and to process the signals induced in the windings. The excitation and processing unit is operably coupled to an external high permeability rod extending along the measurement path in a first plane having the windings but removed therefrom. The rod has first and second excitation coils connected in series and wound around the rod and disposed at opposite ends defining a length of the rod.

Abstract: A fuel strainer assembly includes a filtration member and an inlet connector connected to the filtration member for connection to an inlet of a fuel pump. The fuel strainer assembly also includes a locking mechanism operatively supported by the inlet connector to operatively engage a shell of the fuel pump to secure the inlet connector to the fuel pump.

Abstract: A connector assembly has a slide mechanism for releasably securing and locking together a first connector body and a second connector body. To initially connect together the first and second connector bodies, mounting tabs and lock tabs of the second connector body are disposed in corresponding mounting slots and lock tab slots, respectively, in the first connector body. To releasably lock the connector bodies together, an arm of the slide mechanism is disposed in a channel of the first connector body with a portion of the arm overlying the lock tabs of the second connector body to prevent withdrawal of the lock tabs from the lock tab slots. Thus, removal of the second connector body from the first connector body is prevented while the slide mechanism overlies the lock tabs.

Abstract: A sensor assembly for measuring linear position is provided. The assembly comprises a ferromagnetic magnetic flux concentrator. The flux concentrator is configured as a generally rectangular structure including an air gap at one side thereof. A magnet is slidable along the longitudinal axis of the concentrator. A galvanomagnetic sensing element is disposed in the air gap for sensing magnetic flux passing therethrough. The sensing element is configured to provide an output signal indicative of the measured linear position as the magnet travels along the longitudinal axis of the concentrator.

Abstract: A fuel injector for use in an internal combustion engine, comprising a supply passage for high pressure fuel and an injection nozzle for receiving high pressure fuel. The injection nozzle includes a valve needle which is engageable with a valve needle seating to control fuel delivery from the injector. A surface associated with the valve needle is exposed to fuel pressure within a control chamber and a first restricted flow path provides communication between the supply passage and the control chamber. A supplementary flow path also provides communication between the supply passage and the control chamber under the control of a control valve, so as to allow high pressure fuel to flow from the supply passage into the control chamber through two flow paths when it is required to terminate an injection of fuel.

Abstract: A valve for a control system of a vehicle includes a plunger slidably supported in a valve housing. Within the housing is a valve seat member that defines a valve seat configured for engaging the plunger in a closed configuration. The edges of the valve seat member are slightly spaced from the housing, and a resilient support element such as an o-ring is disposed between the valve seat member and the housing to permit lateral motion of the valve seat member relative to a long axis of the plunger as the plunger moves to the closed configuration.

Abstract: An actuator suitable for use with a fluid flow control valve includes a frame, a bobbin, a coil and a plunger assembly. The frame is generally cylindrical and has a longitudinal axis. The bobbin, which is wound with the coil, includes a central cavity. The plunger assembly is received within the central cavity and includes a plunger portion and a rod portion. The plunger portion is formed of magnetic material. The rod portion may be snapped on the plunger portion to form the plunger assembly. The plunger assembly is configured to move within the cavity in response to an actuator control signal applied to the magnetic coil. Separating the plunger portion and the rod portion improves manufacturability as well as reduces the occurrence of rod damage.