Abstract: A method is directed to controlling a traction control system including a controllable center coupling and a controlled brake system. The method provides for receiving axle speed information, receiving a vehicle speed, determining at least one difference value between the vehicle speed and the axle speed information, and activating the controllable center coupling and the controlled brake system responsive to the difference values. The step of activating the controllable center coupling responsive to at least one of the difference values may include comparing the at least one difference value to at least one associated threshold value, and activating the controllable center coupling based on the comparison. The step of activating the controllable center coupling based on the comparison may include determining an engine torque request value based on the comparison, and engaging an engine with the controllable center coupling based on the engine torque request value.

Abstract: Heat sinks are provided that achieve very high convective heat transfer surface per unit volume. These heat sinks comprise a spreader plate, at least two fins and at least one porous reticulated foam block that fills the space between the fins.

Abstract: A hybrid brake apparatus for a vehicle includes a hydraulic brake circuit having a first fluid circuit and a second fluid circuit connected to a master cylinder for generating hydraulic pressure in the first and a second fluid circuits, and electrically actuated brake elements controllable as a function of the hydraulic pressure in one or the other of the first and second fluid circuits. The apparatus may include a pedal feel emulator in one of the fluid circuits. The apparatus may also include a booster for amplifying pressure in the fluid circuits, a sensor for determining that the booster has failed, and control elements providing compensation for the failed booster during operation of the electrically actuated brakes while the booster is inoperative.

Abstract: A mechanical control head system allows a vehicle user to control certain HVAC functions. The mechanical control head system includes a mounting plate, a faceplate, at least two user-adjustable actuators, at least two function interfaces and connections between the function interfaces and the HVAC module. The knobs provide the user a means to control, for example, the ambient temperature in the vehicle interior and the outside air circulation within the vehicle. The rotary cylinders can be coupled and uncoupled to the knobs in a single step instead of requiring individual steps for each knob.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of horizontally structured CAD/CAM manufacturing for fixtures and tooling comprising: selecting a contact area geometry; creating extracts from a master process model; generating a tooling model corresponding to the contact area geometry; virtual machining the tooling model to generate the fixtures and tooling; and generating machining instructions and drawings to create the fixtures and tooling; where the tooling model exhibits an associative relationship with the contact area geometry.

Abstract: A non-thermal plasma reactor element includes a structural carrier; a thin electrode layer disposed upon the structural carrier; and a thin high k barrier layer disposed upon the electrode layer. Double, single and null dielectric carrier elements are provided. The structural support function for the element is substantially provided by the structural carrier while the dielectric barrier function is substantially provided by the high k barrier layer. This enables optimum utilization of conventional extrusion materials having low-cost, fabricability, mechanical and thermal properties (such as cordierite, mullite, and alumina) as structural carriers. Electrode layers and high k barrier layers are tailored to have dimensions as thin as possible for the particular NTP reactor application. In a preferred embodiment, a minimal number of structural ligaments are provided, thereby maximizing conversion efficiency while maintaining structural and electrical performance.

Abstract: An electrical connector utilizing a plurality of terminals to which wires have been ultrasonically welded, most preferably via UWTI technology, wherein the terminals are aligned for the welding process and also aligned in the connector via one or more terminal carriers. Terminals are placed into respective seats in two terminal carriers, and wires are then ultrasonically welded to the terminals. The terminal carriers are then superposed and placed into a connector body of the electrical connector. The ultrasonic welding process is implemented by an anvil passing through an aperture in the terminal carriers at each terminal so that it is able to sonically and pressurably co-act with the tip of the ultrasonic welding apparatus to thereby effect an ultrasonic weld of the wire(s) to the respective terminals, preferably through the insulation thereof.

Abstract: A method of making an interior trim panel for attachment to structure of a vehicle includes the steps of loading a trim blank into a cavity of a first side of a mold and depositing a molten thermoplastic material onto a core on the first side of the mold. The method also includes the steps of closing the mold, moving the slide in a channel of the core, and injecting a molten thermoplastic material into a second side of the mold to form the interior trim panel.

Abstract: A first solenoid-operated, discharge-line control valve (26) is moved between open and closed positions to control fluid flow in the discharge fluid line (18) between the compressor (12) and the condenser (14). A second solenoid-operated, liquid-line control valve (28) is moved between open and closed positions to control fluid flow in the liquid fluid line (20) between the condenser (14) and the evaporator (16). A controller (36) closes one of the flow control valves (26, 28) a period of time before closing the other flow control valve (26, 28) and shuts down the compressor (12) sequentially with the flow control valves (26, 28).

Abstract: A damper includes a piston that carries a relatively compact control valve for controlling fluid flow through the piston. The control valve provides a variable amount of damping by regulating damper fluid flow between the extension chamber and the compression chamber of the damper during extension and compression strokes. Pressure regulation across the piston is controlled through a flow path as determined by the control valve. The damping force of the damper varies depending upon the loading conditions of the vehicle. The control valve is air pressure actuated to adjust the damping force and control the flow of fluid in the flow path. The piston and rod assembly include unique features such as a seal plate design, and spring retainer that aid in the efficient and reliable assembly in a commercial production setting.

Abstract: The subject invention detects the presence of an ozone reducing coating on an automotive radiator of the type having spaced fins presenting electromagnetic surface properties different than the electromagnetic surface properties of the coating. In accordance with the subject invention light rays are emitted or reflected off the coating on the fins to a detector and a comparator compares these light rays to a predetermined benchmark to provide a signal in response to the detected light rays crossing the benchmark. In a species, a second detector is employed to detect rays from an un-coated section to establish the benchmark.

Abstract: Brake assemblies and a method of dissipating heat from a brake assembly are provided. A first brake assembly includes a rotor, a brake caliper assembly including an actuator motor, and at least one friction pad operably attached to the caliper assembly. The actuator motor biases the friction pad into frictional engagement with the rotor. At least one thermal conduit extends distally from the actuator motor dissipating heat energy away from the actuator motor. The method includes providing an actuator motor and providing a thermal conduit extending distally from the actuator motor. Heat is conducted away from the actuator motor along the thermal conduit. A second brake assembly includes actuator motor means and thermal conduit means extending distally from the actuator motor means. The brake assembly further includes means for conducting heat from the actuator motor means along the thermal conduit means.

Abstract: A system and method for managing changes to items associated with a complex system of inter-related items. The inventive system includes a database having a plurality of records, wherein each record includes information concerning an item associated with the assembled end product. The information contained in each record includes an identification of other items that could be affected by a change to the item associated with the record. The system further includes a computer-user interface displaying a user-updateable list of affected items and a user-updateable list of non-affected items. The list of affected items and the list of non-affected items are created by assigning items that may be affected by a change to one of these lists.

Abstract: A sensor assembly with a universal sensor module for sensing angular position of a rotatable object is provided. The universal sensor module includes a module housing. The sensor module further includes a rotatable assembly in the module housing configured to define a bore for interchangeably receiving one of the following: the rotatable object, and an interface adaptor for receiving the rotatable object. A bearing device allows rotational movement between a stationary assembly and the rotatable assembly. The sensor assembly is configured to accommodate an array of diverse sensing applications with the universal sensor module.

Abstract: An ignition assembly provides a current to a spark plug to combust fuel in a cylinder of an internal combustion engine. The ignition coil assembly includes a primary winding defining a central axis. A secondary winding is wrapped about the primary winding coaxial with the central axis. The ignition coil assembly also includes a central core extending through the primary winding coaxial with the central axis. The central core includes a plurality of core components each having a single exterior surface that is continuous. In addition, each of the single exterior surface extends through an arcuate path.

Abstract: Active control of a vehicle bumper damper is provided. A damper controller receives data from a collision data acquisition device and sends a control signal to configure an active damper based on the received data. During a collision or immediately preceding a collision the vehicle bumper damper is adjusted using the damper controller mechanism that responds to real-time collision information. A vehicle including an active control system for a vehicle bumper is provided. The vehicle includes a collision data acquisition device, a damper controller coupled to the collision data acquisition device, and an active damper coupled to the damper controller. The damper controller receives data from the collision data acquisition device and sends a control signal to configure the active damper based on the received data.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a passenger airbag housing using a continuous flow or constant cross-section process, the process will enable maximum design flexibility when multiple materials are capable of being used. The method will have a short design and tooling lead-time providing lean processing and a common footprint over a family of designs. A method of structurally reinforcing a passenger air bag housing by inserting a structural member into the continuous flow or constant cross-section process.

Abstract: A system and method for treating a combustion exhaust stream includes admitting an exhaust stream into a non-thermal plasma reactor having at least one segmented non-thermal plasma element including a plurality of individually energizable electrode segments defining a plurality of corona volumes. In a preferred embodiment, the electrode segments are progressively smaller in size in the exhaust flow direction to provide optimum plasma volume variation. Individually energizable electrodes are selectively activated to effect variable corona volumes for treating an exhaust stream. Additional reactor segments are activated only as needed, such as during periods of high exhaust flow, for efficient treatment of the exhaust stream so as to maintain optimized high space velocity in the active corona volume. The segmented elements may comprise a variety of shapes. The system and method are particularly suitable for gas pretreatment and downstream diesel particulate filter regeneration.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring leakage current between a first semiconductor region and a second semiconductor region to be formed therein includes a system for measuring surface minority carrier leakage within the first semiconductor region. A correlation is established between surface minority carrier lifetime in the first semiconductor region and leakage current between the first and second semiconductor regions, and in one embodiment a surface minority carrier lifetime threshold is designated based on this correlation. Leakage current between the first and second regions is acceptable if the measured surface minority carrier lifetime is greater than this threshold. In an alternate embodiment, a leakage current threshold is established, and the measured surface minority carrier leakage is converted via the correlation to a measured leakage current.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly is provided that includes a first connector having a slidable cover and alignment post receiving sockets, a second connector constructed with alignment posts, and a flexible mounting bracket. The cover protects terminals mounted in the first connector from dirt and debris when the connector is in an unmated state. As the second connector is engaged with the first connector, angled surfaces on the alignment posts of the second connector cooperate with chamfered surfaces on the first connector to guide a misaligned second connector into the first connector. Angled surfaces on the alignment posts and cover cooperate to move the cover exposing the terminals on the first connector for electrical connection with terminals on the second connector.