Abstract: A piston and ring assembly for a compressor that may be used in a vehicle air conditioning system. The assembly comprises a piston and a ring located within a cylinder bore. The ring has a frustoconical shape and the piston has a complementary frustoconical groove. The ring is a parallelogram in cross-section.

Abstract: A high side reverse voltage and overvoltage protection circuit configuration comprising: a first switching device in operable communication with a transient protected voltage source; a second switching device in operable communication and in series with the first switching device and in operable communication with an unprotected voltage source; a control circuit configured to control the first switching device and the second switching device in operable communication with another transient protected voltage source. The first switching device is configured to provide reverse voltage protection for the transient protected voltage source; and the second switching device is configured to provide overvoltage protection for the transient protected voltage source.

Abstract: A vehicle braking system vacuum booster tandem power piston connection design such that the primary piston and the secondary piston are positioned together forming the tandem power piston. A connection design that provides direct alignment between the primary piston and secondary piston upon assembly and also provides an airtight seal between the primary piston and the secondary piston when assembling the tandem power piston.

Abstract: An elongated housing for use with an airbag module is provided. The housing comprises a first wall, a second wall, a bottom wall joining the first and second walls such that a first width is defined by the housing, and a cushion deployment opening opposite the bottom wall. The cushion deployment opening is between a first edge of the first wall and a second edge of the second wall. The cushion deployment opening has a second width that is between about 90 percent of the first width and about 30 percent of the first width.

Abstract: The present invention provides for an electronic control module including a support board, an electronic package, and a compliant spacer disposed between the electronic package and the support board. The compliant spacer may include a compliant rubber spacer having a hollow section. A heat sink member is thermally coupled to the electronic package.

Abstract: A deactivation hydraulic valve lifter which includes an elongate lifter body having a substantially cylindrical outer surface and an inner wall, the inner wall defining at least one annular pin chamber therein. The outer surface defining at least one annular groove in fluid communication with a high-pressure oil gallery of an engine, the lifter body having a lower end configured for engaging cam of the engine.

Abstract: A test circuit and method provide testing of a capacitive type microsensor. The method includes applying a first signal having a first voltage potential to an input of a microsensor during a non-test operating mode. The method also includes applying a second voltage signal having a second voltage potential different than the first voltage potential during a test mode. The second voltage potential induces a net differential electrostatic force in the microsensor. The method further includes the steps of monitoring an output signal of the microsensor, comparing the output signal to an expected value when the microsensor is in the test mode, and determining if the microsensor is functioning properly as a function of the comparison.

Abstract: A catalytic converter comprises a catalyst substrate concentrically disposed in a shell and having a mat support material located concentrically in between the catalyst substrate and shell. The catalyst substrate includes structural features located on its outer surface that engage the mat support material. The shear forces exerted between the catalyst substrate and mat support material, in addition to the normally present frictional forces, reduce the axial movement of the catalyst substrate during assembly and operation of the catalytic converter.

Abstract: A heat sink buffer 10 is provided, including a backplate 20 defining a heat transfer passage 24. A thermally conductive buffer element 22 is positioned within and secured to the heat transfer passage 24 to provide a thermal conduit through the backplate 20.

Abstract: An assembly of efficient construction and operation to hold restraining air bag tethers to a shortened operative length under a first set of conditions and to extend such tethers under a second set of conditions. The extension of the restraining tethers is carried out in conjunction with the delivery of an increased volume of inflating gas to the air bag cushion. The air bag assembly may be operated using as few as two activatable initiators to activate inflation stages while simultaneously controlling tether length to effect delivery of a proper volume of inflation gas for a desired cushion profile.

Abstract: An air bag pressure control system for use in a vehicle is provided. The system comprises a housing, an inflatable cushion, and a dual stage inflator. The inflator generates a quantity of inflation gas to deploy the inflatable cushion from the housing. A vent opening is formed in the housing to selectively direct a portion of the inflation gas towards or away from the inflatable cushion. A sensing and diagnostic module detects an activation event level. A control algorithm tailors an inflation level of the inflatable cushion during deployment according to the activation event level.

Abstract: A method identifies a level of each of a plurality of liquids in a reservoir. The method includes using a sensing assembly having first and second electrodes extending along a side of the reservoir, wherein the first and second electrodes combine to form a plurality of capacitors each having a unique capacitance. The method includes the steps of applying an input AC signal voltage to the first electrode. An output AC signal voltage is then measured across the second electrode. The method continues by locating clusters of frequency variations. The method then associates a level identification for each of the plurality of liquids with each of the clusters of frequency variations.

Abstract: A low-profile integrated catalytic converter with a coupling assembly comprises a catalytic converter with a coupling assembly integrated into the inlet end of the catalytic converter, which is attached to a mounting flange or exhaust pipe. The coupling assembly comprises two or more flexible bellows, joined together at their periphery, and containing a plurality of undulating ribs. The respective ends of the flexible bellows assembly are secured to the catalytic converter. A coupling travel limiter can optionally be concentrically disposed within the bellows assembly to limit the flexibility of the coupling and direct an exhaust gas stream into the catalytic converter.

Abstract: A cooling assembly having a base plate and a condenser plate. An outer wall interconnects the base plate to the condenser plate to define a sealed chamber with a working fluid being disposed within the sealed chamber. Intersecting partition walls are mounted to the condenser plate and are angled downwardly toward the base plate for directing working fluid on the condenser plate down a corner of the walls toward a portion of the base plate. Preferably, the base plate defines a first circumference and the condenser plate defines a second circumference larger than the first circumference such that the outer wall has an angled configuration extending between the base plate and the condenser plate to provide a larger area within the sealed chamber for a vapor phase of the working fluid than a liquid phase of the working fluid.

Abstract: A reconfigurable rollover event detection methodology utilizes an existing body of vehicle sensor data. A number of different algorithms or look-up modules develop rollover detection outputs based on different sets of sensor data, and a meta-algorithm combines the various rollover detection outputs to form a single rollover detection output. The number of individual rollover detection outputs is configurable depending on the extent of the available sensor data in a given vehicle and changes in sensor availability that occur due to sensor and communication failures.

Abstract: An exhaust treatment device comprises: a substrate; an end-cone with a first end disposed about an end of the substrate and a second end comprising a snorkel; a mat support disposed over at least a portion of the end-cone, wherein the mat support comprises a slit in operable communication with a snorkel slot and a keyhole disposed at the opposite end of the slit as the snorkel slot, and wherein at least a portion of the snorkel protrudes through the snorkel slot; and a shell disposed around the mat support.

Abstract: A system and a method for sending and receiving electronic messages through a radio that incorporates a modem for connecting to a personal digital assistant and a cellular phone by way of a communication port. The communication port provides a cellular link to an Internet service provider for two-way electronic message transfers by the personal digital assistant.

Abstract: A power generation system and method providing an engine configured to produce hydrogen rich reformate to feed a solid oxide fuel cell includes an engine having an intake and an exhaust; an air supply in fluid communication with the engine intake; a fuel supply in fluid communication with the engine intake; at least one solid oxide fuel cell having an air intake in fluid communication with an air supply, a fuel intake in fluid communication with the engine exhaust, a solid oxide fuel cell effluent and an air effluent. Engines include a free piston gas generator with rich homogenous charge compression, a rich internal combustion engine cylinder system with an oxygen generator, and a rich inlet turbo-generator system with exhaust heat recovery. Oxygen enrichment devices to enhance production of hydrogen rich engine exhaust include pressure swing absorption with oxygen selective materials, and oxygen separators such as an solid oxide fuel cell oxygen separator and a ceramic membrane oxygen separator.

Abstract: A process for underfilling a bumped die surface using a lamination step and compound film such that solder bumps on the die are exposed during lamination. The compound film comprises a first layer containing an underfill material and a second layer on the first layer. The underfill material and the second layer comprise polymer materials that differ from each other. The compound film is laminated to the die, preferably at the wafer level, so that the underfill material is forced between the solder bumps and fills spaces between the bumps but does not cover the bumps. In contrast, the second layer covers the solder bumps, but is then selectively removed to re-expose the solder bumps and the underfill material therebetween.

Abstract: An improved circuit supplies electrical power to a vehicle accessory load, such as a load that is powered through a vehicle accessory load connector or cigarette lighter plug. The circuit utilizes battery voltage comparator and timer switching circuitry to interrupt the supply of power to the accessory load if the engine-driven alternator fails to charge the storage battery for at least a predefined time interval (i.e., when the vehicle engine is not running), and to automatically re-establish electrical power supply to the load when battery charging resumes (i.e., when engine operation resumes).